Muses come in many forms. An obvious lair is the art museum, where we aspiring artists miss the paintings for the brush strokes. I peer into the corner section of an Ensor, eyes agog to take in the technique. I often leave art museums with an idiotic sense of shared ability. Then I take up my brush and stand staring stupidly into the nonchalant canvas for an hour.
But I'm frequently visited by the Muse of the commercially cerebral Victoria's Secret catalog. The girls are voluptuous and pouty and pose in semi-natural positions (as compared to high fashion modeling). Also they wear very little clothes, so it's a nearly nude study of catalog-perfect bodies. I'm a product of western consumerism so while I will paint a good chunky lady with pleasure, I gravitate to the typical hip-to-breast hourglass that is the archetype feminine silhouette.
The top painting is the first draft of a sexy green lady I painted in 2009 and here is the finished product:
I attempted many versions of the face; struggling with something that was understated but not too weird. Obviously the face is the least interesting part of the work. This is one of the few pieces that I bothered naming. I liked the uber-nerd reference as well as an attempt to explain why she is green. To be honest (and that is what this blog is all about), I was experimenting with form and using an atypical color to highlight the importance of form. I think I meant to make her many colors, but the green just flowed so well. Regardless, she is one of my favorites. Acrylic on a found piece of particle board.
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