Languor (full figure)

[Terri Ficenec]

Just beautiful Linda! The colors, the subtlety of the flesh tones, everything. I especially like how you captured the warm pink, almost translucentness of her fingers. . . and the natural relaxed-ness of her pose.

Was this painted from life?

[Michele Rushworth]

I love this painting, Linda!

[Linda Brandon]

There is a LANGUOR of the Life
More imminent than Pain -
'Tis Pain's successor - when the Soul
Has suffered all it can - A drowsiness diffuses -
A dimness like a Fog
Envelops Consciousness -
As Mists - obliterate a Crag. The Surgeon does not blanch at pain
His habit is severe -
But tell Him that it ceased to feel -
The Creature lying there - And he will tell you - skill is late -
A Mightier than He -
Has ministerd before Him -
There's no Vitality.

Emily Dickinson

[Garth Herrick]

Dear Linda,

This is such a decisive, strong, and poetic painting. The simple harmonious color theme gives clarity to the message of this highly original pose. This lovely figure beckons us to join her and reflect upon those challenges and tribulations we all face in life. I love crisp handling of this painting. It's a worthy, thoughtful, and wholesome addition to this new section of nudes. I'm glad we can see her as a complete and whole person now.

Garth

[Elizabeth Schott]

Linda in the nicest way... you have such a way with women! Beautiful!

[Jean Kelly]

I second Garth here, on this being a worthy addition to the nude section. I'm so glad to see this posted in full, it's a beautiful painting Linda.

Jean

[Linda Brandon]

Originally Posted by Terri Ficenec

Was this painted from life?

Terri, I sketched her face on paper, took some photos, and realized after I took the photos that I was getting some kind of photo distortion no matter how far away I placed my camera or what zoom I used. When I say 'distortion' I mean that she just didn't look the way I saw her with my eye - the photos tended to drain the S-curve energy I saw in the pose. So I sat down and read everything I could find about figure perspective. Basically, what you want to do is establish an eye level and look up at her head and hands and down at her feet. (I went to several museums last year and sketched lots of full-sized figurative works and confirmed for myself that this is what a lot of artists did.) I ended up reshooting the foot with another model and wrapped the shawl over Half Nelson, my stuffed long underwear model (I do this a lot) to get some life practice in with fabric folds. Sorry to be so long-winded.

Many thanks to everyone, including Percy, for the kind remarks - they are much appreciated.