The Lambertville Lachlan

Allan Rahbek · 02-21-2005, 05:12 PM

Garth,

Lucky you , having such a lovely daughter. I bet that you will regret selling that painting!

When I opened the post yesterday I saw the painting before realizing it was yours. I felt it looked familiar, European in a way, somewhat underplayed or unpretentious in the attitude.

Lovely, very indeed !

Allan

Garth Herrick · 02-21-2005, 06:16 PM

Allan.

Gosh, Thanks! I am feeling fortunate, having posted this and having so many friends like you loading my subject and I with compliments. As a dad, I also feel fortunate with a daughter who's lovely and bright, although certainly most all parents feel the same about their kids most of the time. What had not sunk into my head before the sale was that an image like this might resonate with others too. Now that feels complimentary. Of course your own lovely portraits of your daughters resonate universally on this Forum.

I am fascinated by the complimentary "European" attributes you mention, which feels fine to me. What makes a portrait more European than, say, American? Since my family has been American for three-eighths of a millenia, it would probably be stretching things to suggest I had some kind of European insight and connection, as desireable as that would be. Although I admit, I was fortunate to travel all over western Europe just over twenty years ago. I suppose that had a positive influence or two upon me. Twenty-one years...... I need to return!

Thanks again,

Garth

Marvin Mattelson · 02-22-2005, 10:00 AM

Beautiful Garth. I love the juxtaposition of the neutral background with the color in your daughter's complexion and clothing.

Jimmie Arroyo · 02-22-2005, 12:13 PM

No surprise how beautiful it its. I do have to admit, it feels different than your other paintings. It's more alive, fresh, as in capturing a moment in time as oppossed to the formal or posed portraits. It's better than a snapshot. I love the way you can handle a brush, and with the closeups of the hair, it's looks like you can handle the opposite end of the brush also.

There is so much movement, I can envision her moving back and forth and side to side with the fence as her support. Beautiful expression. You, and the new owner of the painting are blessed.

Timothy C. Tyler · 02-22-2005, 07:30 PM

Looks very painterly man! I like!

Garth Herrick · 02-22-2005, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmie Arroyo

No surprise how beautiful it its. I do have to admit, it feels different than your other paintings. It's more alive, fresh, as in capturing a moment in time as oppossed to the formal or posed portraits. It's better than a snapshot. I love the way you can handle a brush, and with the closeups of the hair, it's looks like you can handle the opposite end of the brush also.

There is so much movement, I can envision her moving back and forth and side to side with the fence as her support. Beautiful expression. You, and the new owner of the painting are blessed.

Dear Marvin, Jimmie, and Tim,

Thanks so much for your enthusiastic and affirmative responses. I had no idea this humble painting would get the response it has. You have all made my day.

Marvin, thanks for liking the color relationships. I have to credit my wife's fine eye for the outfit worn that day, but I always loved that peculiar faded yellow-green sweater against the denim dress. The figure is more or less a co-relationship of very understated primary colors off set by the more neutral background. Soft colors seem to work well with small children. Just a few months back, I scrubbed an indanthrone blue glaze over all the background, then rubbed it all off again as hard as I could. It left it's mark none-the-less, and the slight blue shift seemed to add a little cohesion to the neutral tones and give a subliminal affinitive resonance with the dress. This also set off the partial warmth in the flesh tones better. While quite fair, my daughter's black/white heritage, makes complex, subtle undertones seem slightly elusive to establish, never-the-less there's unmistakable fidelity in her soft rosy glow.

Jimmie: Ha! You caught me in the act of agressively digging and scribbling with the wrong end of the brush. It felt good, and chances are good I'll do some more on paintings to come. She was moving at the moment I captured her. There is no way of conceiling this fact. Generally this can present a challenge in portraiture when a static, naturally focused pose that a sitter can hold for some time, is usually the ideal. But after all, don't kids at this age move around a lot?

Tim: Thanks! Why can't I always remain painterly? It's tough some times.

Thanks again for your insights.

Garth

Jean Kelly · 02-23-2005, 12:33 AM

How did I miss this, Garth. It is delightful!

Jean

Tom Edgerton · 02-23-2005, 12:21 PM

Garth--

I really like this a GREAT deal. What it shows when placed beside your more formal, "tighter" work, is that three-dimensionality and solidity is not a function of paint application or style, but correct observation. This is rock-solid and very volumetric, even with the looser painterliness. And as I view it more, it's got a really fine color sensibility.

Plus, I just love the complexity of her mood and expression. It's real life, not manufactured cuteness...you don't need more. A real lesson for me (and all of us).

I'da bought it too, but it wouldn't have taken me years...!

Best--TE