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Wednesday, October 16, 2013

My Thirty Minute Comeback

 





It's not much of a comeback, I agree. Just an hour poking around the studio and a spontaneous decision to try this monochromatic portrait.  There's lots of value balancing to be done--too much for a half hour at the easel--but a self portrait was an easy choice.  All the paintable Fall photographs I took over the last days require layers of colors and probably weeks of work.  But not now. Now is for easing back in and taking continued healing measures. Friday is my last physical therapy session. By then I suppose I'll be able to dance.
















19 comments:

  1. This portrait looks excellent already, Linda! The likeness is incredible!!! As far as dancing, please start off with a slow one...LOL and of course,
    I love the colorful fall photos....

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    1. Old BB King and I will sway to the blues. I love that guy--but I'm working my way back to the Eagles' Life in the Fast Lane and Elvis' Hunk a hunk of Burning Love. Nothing more fun than a brush in hand, plenty of paint and a tune that makes you want to move. The portrait was a ease back into it. And I did notice that that troublesome hamstring that's holding me back was forgotten as I straightened and puttered and finally picked up the brush. It was a long six weeks. The next six weeks will be better with painting back.

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  2. your portrait is looking great....I'll be watching for the next phase. Love the fall photos!

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    1. I don't know about too many next phases. I think this one is a quickie (for me) and on to maybe those landscapes? I was surprised at how many I had done--enough to hit the streets in search of rejection. :-))

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  3. Good morning, Linda! I love this pose and it will be a great painting. Beautiful fall photos! I'm glad you're getting better, take care!

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    1. Good morning to you too Judy. It was great to be back. What I liked about this self portrait reference shot was it's lack of color. I have to be careful to keep it that way. What I also like about this self portrait is I'm looking back--I think that's what I'll call it, Looking Back, given it's my comeback commemorative.

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  4. A beautiful beginning, I love the pose and palette. I've added your blog to my blog roll so I don't miss out when it's finished. There is so much to be inspired by each season but fall is a burst of color. I love your tree paintings from the previous posts, amazing work!

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    1. Thanks Celia. I really thought your watercolor was unique. I particularly liked the way you used pattern to bring the objects together. Outstanding birthday gift to your daughter.

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  5. This a wonderful self portrait with many dimensions. I also enjoyed your gorgeous fall photographs. Good luck with you last physical therapy session and I look forward to seeing more of you.

    Julie

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  6. Thanks Julie. It was nice meeting you today. Your topic was intriguing. I have lots of thoughts on what constitutes cheating and what is just playing around.

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  7. That is an awesome start. I am looking forward to see how you balance the roughness and the details in it.

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    1. Thanks Roger. I'm as curious as you are. I thought I'd get back to it yesterday, but my life coach got a sciatica attack and I became his PT coach for the day. There's no room in this house for two lame ducks. So painting tomorrow if all goes well at my last PT session--maybe?

      In between icing sessions, I ordered up a slew of 20 x 20" canvases and back ordered watercolor supplies for our trip to Mexico. I've made the commitment to do four more landscapes over the next months and to not give up on watercolor. It is the best medium on the beach. My camera will be around my neck as well looking out for figurative subjects frolicking in the sand. It's nice to have something like that to look forward to.

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  8. This is a powerful self-portrait, Linda! I would love to see it finished.
    PS - Happy dancing!!!

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    1. Well I'm not quite tripping the light fantastic yet, but well on my way. Thanks. This one is going to be under done. I like the airiness of the photo. I'm going to try to keep it.

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    1. Yours hasn't been too shabby either. Drawing is a gift from you know who. The skill could falter with neglect, but it rebounds full strength with the slightest bit of attention.

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  10. Well, how did it go Friday? Did you make a great comeback? I hope so!

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    1. Everybody is very pleased with how I'm doing. The medical people talk like I'm some sort of special case just because I have cut out the narcotic pain killers and have gone to two doses of acetaminophen per day. Nevertheless, I need four more PT sessions and the doc wants to see me in two months. This tells me that my pain threshold is still higher than most and the recuperation period is probably as long as a full knee replacement. Then I'm told the scar sensitivity will probably go on for a year or so. So it really will be up to me to continue the program on my own, which I will do. I am a stubborn goat. Thanks for asking JJ--by the way, I finally finished George Washington. He died on page 817 or in 1799. He was the longest lived of the Washington males. He was 67. On to Jefferson.

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  11. I just love the strong line in this portrait. It stands up well as it is.

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