Vintage Mugshot #2, 4 x 4 inch oil on panel.
© 2013 Kathleen Coy
You know there had to have been a man involved in this story - "You want me to drive the get-away car?? Oh Honey, you know I'll do anything for you!" There's no date on the photo, but I'm thinking the curls and hat look Prohibition era, so maybe the arrest had something to do with that. Regardless, I hope she didn't get into too much trouble, and went on to have a good life. Her photo is rather haunting to me (see below.) And yes, I'm going to paint the sideways view next. Love those curls!!
I'm actually a little blown away at this painting. It seemed to paint itself, like I watched it appear at the end of the brush. I know it's a cumulation of all the work and focus I've put in over the last year. (Remember, I've never painted people until this project.) It's so exciting for me to see a style developing, and see how far I've come with skin tones in such a short time. This painting seems like a quantum leap, and I'm wondering if it has to do with making up the colors... if that switched on something in my brain? Regardless of how it got there, I'm thrilled and humbled that it did.
I love this Kathleen...the photo is very haunting. There is so much feeling in those eyes and you have captured it so well! I think making up the colors could have helped...I know whenever I make up colors I always seem to get a better result! Well done!!
ReplyDeleteThe fleshtones are just so spot on... and from a black and white photo, no less...
ReplyDeleteI'm loving this series. I agree the profile is very interesting, too... I can't wait to see it :)
Thanks so much, Karen and Allison. This series is the first time I've really played around with making up colors from a black and white reference, and for the most part I'm enjoying it immensely, although sometimes the part of my brain that wants to only paint what it sees gets stuck for a moment.
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