Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Black Dress

Black Dress by David R. Darrow 11" x 14" (27.9cm x 35.6cm)
Oil on Panel
SOLD Collection of Bob Camp
Cincinnati, OH – USA

About This Painting

I've just moved into a new-to-us residence/studio with my wife Teresa, and am very excited about my new studio... it's the perfect setting to reintroduce my Internet Video Show Dave the Painting Guy which I will have on the air again this week.

From the new studio in Encinitas, CA!

One of the last paintings I did on the air from my old studio in Oceanside, CA was this one I have titled Black Dress.

I liked this woman's face can curly hair, so I asked her if I might pain her sometime, noting that I would kind of like to direct the lighting... she agreed, asked her daughter to photograph her – following my instructions – and sent me several to choose from. I liked this composition best.

I decided to paint this one live on my show, keeping it heavy and painterly, and also decided to experiment a little with the start: I started the painting with my reference photo upside down as a means of forcing my mind to see abstractly, to get the shapes right. (Watch the first in the video clip series)

The result was very pleasing to me, and the painting sold immediately...

...to her husband.  ◙


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7 comments:

Jeffrey Hayes said...

good to see you back!

laine lea said...

Really great! What do you use for you flesh palette Dave? They seem bright.

David R. Darrow said...

Jeff, Thanks! Nice to be back!

Laine, I honestly don't remember. I don't have a formula for flesh tones, it always depends on the light (if the lights were off, I would have painted her flesh black).

But it's safe to say that for a Caucasian, I start with white and a mixed orange, then gray it with blue or green. I put that on the canvas and see what direction I need to go from there.

My paintings are just a prolonged series of corrections.

Daniel Peci said...

David, Just to send some positive vibrations over here, I love the angle of the portrait and it just adds to the spontaneity of the painting, the person portrayed and a moment captured.

hj said...

great, wonderful painting ans nice frame!

Marco Bucci said...

great painting!

Jennifer McChristian said...

It's no surprise her husband purchased the painting shortly after completion.
This portrait is stunning, evocative and sensuous.