How's about a little detail--
I started this painting about 3 years ago! I know! what have I been doing? Well, I started it when I was living in florida, and then I decided to move back to Maryland...and I suppose somewhere in that move, this one was forgotten. I have wanted to finish it for a long time, but something else always came up. Last night, as I was doing my nightly "thinking so much I can't sleep" thing, I started thinking about how to make my paintings be MORE than just paintings. How to put more of my self in them...and still have things to say visually, about the subject. So, last night I decided that today, I was going to finish this thing ( and some other pieces I seem to have put on the back-burner.)
While at my slave job, copying hundreds of checks, I started thinking about what to do with this particular piece. How to say something about me, and about Jon, ( who happens to be the subject) AND something about how I knew him. This is what I thought: Jon, is this guy with a mind SO creative and alive all the time. He gets very excited about his ideas and once he has a good one, it just keeps flowing until it's an entity all its own. Still however, he is very self contained, and though outwardly friendly and kind...it is so hard for him to let people in. Of course, I haven't seen him in 3 years, but I'm willing to bet he is the same old Jon...deep down. One of the most talented people I have ever met. He takes the most incredible photos, and he wont let me share them with you.
I hope he likes this painting I finally finished. I am happy to have have known him well enough to paint this portrait. I don't paint people I don't know. I guess I'm not that good yet. But, I DO think I evolved a little in this process. -Niff
Wow - nice niffer. I really like the area under the nose, and around the mouth...
Posted by: bearskinrug | March 02, 2005 at 08:23 AM
This is really great. And the fact that you picked it up after so long to finish it is really incredible. Its so difficult to pick up where you left off after so much has happened...
Posted by: rachael | March 02, 2005 at 09:26 AM
Now that I'm looking at it, I am thinking about re-doing the whole bubble....painting it black with white/gold ornaments..what do you think?
Posted by: niff | March 02, 2005 at 09:29 AM
I think the bubble would look good in white ink with white filling on a white background. Or just completely omitted.
Posted by: RJ Hampden | March 02, 2005 at 09:55 AM
Gee, thanks RJ, you are so helpful.
Posted by: niff | March 02, 2005 at 10:30 AM
The black would be too heavy and draw too much of your attention. I like the way it is because the bubble is the same weight as the pants so your eye is drawn through the picture and doesn't get bogged down with anything.
Posted by: rachael | March 02, 2005 at 02:24 PM
Yeah - Rachael's got a good point - the black might really throw things off balance...
Posted by: bearskinrug | March 02, 2005 at 03:55 PM
I'm never sure b/c I tend to put too much white space
Posted by: niff | March 02, 2005 at 04:14 PM
Agreed; white and gold > black and gold.
Posted by: cJw | March 02, 2005 at 04:40 PM
Tremendous! Yes! Yes! Yes! [clapping] That's perfect! I love it! Halleluia!!!!
Posted by: RJ Hampden | March 02, 2005 at 04:56 PM
Not only is that Painting Incredible!!! and I agree with the black throwing it off, but that's a killer title too!
Oh and I have recently decided to start commenting on these... enjoy!
Posted by: The Jones | March 15, 2005 at 11:26 PM