Naive elegance

Linda Eades Blackburn · 06-26-2005, 10:55 PM

A magnificent work! Would love to do some pastels, but don't have a clue how to approach this type of work. My pastel work looks primitive next to this. Hopefully I will learn from this site.

Linda Brandon · 06-26-2005, 11:04 PM

This is stunning, Lisa. Wow, do I wish I had painted this!

We are in parallel universes of some kind. Last week I got my hands on an incredible red sari with gold stripes and gold motifs.It has found its way into a new painting as a background drape (I had no idea a sari was such a long piece of cloth).

This is another terrific pastel!

Kimberly Dow · 06-26-2005, 11:10 PM

Wow!

This is just gorgeous. Stunning, Lisa!

Lisa Ober · 06-26-2005, 11:22 PM

Linda E. (so many Linda's), thank you for commenting so generously. I certainly wish I was a better oil painter. It seems to me with your talent that you can approach your pastels like you do oils and have great success. With pastel the differece is that your fingers become part of the brush. It's a real mess.

Linda B., I have no doubt you can do better than this but thank you very much. Aren't those sari's something? The oil I am painting has this girl in a red one as well! Too funny. It has gold threading throughout and leaves of deep teal and lavender. It looks like Fall and is so rich in color. It's quite a challenge to say the least. I wonder how you get these things on (not that I would try it). I think I would get stuck. They don't seem flattering for the larger figure type category I fit into anyway. Furthermore, do you know how heavy some of them are? I saw this woman's wedding sari and it was made of the heaviest fabric, almost like upholstery fabric. It's a wonder she didn't pass out wearing it. It had to have weighed 20 pounds at least and the wrap part (a technical term-lol) went on forever.

I look forward to seeing your background sari pattern. Thank you for a very thoughtful and encouraging response. I admire your work so much.

Heidi Maiers · 06-27-2005, 01:18 AM

Lisa,
Every last detail of this is absolutely gorgeous! The bold blue, the simple gradient background, and the exquisite portrait all complement each other perfectly.

Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco · 06-27-2005, 04:06 AM

Lisa, what a great piece of work! Is not only about the sari, it's just the look in those eyes that make it so powerful, the colours and lighting only add to the presence of this woman in the painting.
Great !
Ilaria

Lisa Ober · 06-27-2005, 05:34 AM

Heidi, I'm happy you like it. Blue is not regularly on my palette. For that matter, neither is "bold" so your comments are most appreciated.

Thanks for looking. By the way, I have really been enjoying your WIP and learning new things at your web site. Great stuff!

Ilaria, thank you. Yes I think the woman has some really fantastic eyes. She has an innocent nature and yet has a penetrating stare. I am happy you see her presence in this piece. You are so kind to respond. I was hoping the sari would not hide her expression so I am glad to hear you don't find it entirely distracting. Sometimes the balancing act works. Sometimes I fall flat on my face.

Ngaire Winwood · 06-27-2005, 05:56 AM

This painting is a brilliant and beautiful piece of work. You must be very happy with it. Your selection of colours you used for your pallete are great. Well done. Care to share what you used?

Alexandra Tyng · 06-27-2005, 11:35 AM

Lisa,

Once in a while you see a portrait that really stands out. This is one like that!

Alex

Cynthia Daniel · 06-27-2005, 10:14 AM

This is an amazing portrait.