Saturday, April 14, 2012

Copying Collins

























I've been trying to work on painting figures but find it difficult
to work things out without models—like impossible. I've been going
to life drawing classes for two-hour stretches—not enough time to paint.
I'm approaching models who feel comfortable being photographed as
reference but need to have a sense of knowing what I'm after style-wise
and also how to protect them before committing to hiring them.
My goal was to work on temperature and thought it a brilliant idea to learn
from a master—use a pose done by a contemporary realist painter,
Jacob Collins, as a roadmap for cool and warm tones. I didn't try to copy
him verbatim, didn't use his colors or temperature, didn't attempt to emulate
his realism but I did use his pose. He's very much alive and his painting is very
contemporary so I'm hoping I'm not violating any copyright laws.

Here is the link to Jacob Collins masterful painting, Carolina:
http://www.jacobcollinspaintings.com/carolina.html


Having temperature be foremost in my mind as I paint rather than achieving 
any kind of faithfulness or likeness has really opened up the way I think about 
painting. It feels like a good shift.

14 comments:

martinealison said...

Une très belle interprétation de la photo... Vous n'avez pas copié, vous vous êtes seulement emparée du personnage en y mettant votre personnalité, votre ressenti face à l'image, ainsi que votre touche personnelle. Les couleurs et les lumières sont parfaites.
Gros bisous

carol morgan carmichael said...

Love Jacob's painting but yours has so much personality. Love all the mottled brushwork and colors. Beautiful!!

Virginia Floyd said...

She's lovely, Lorraine. I love the play of cool and warmth. Great job!

Pétales de fée said...

It's really beautiful Lorraine! I like the pose and light on the nose! A really beautiful painting!
Kisses and good late Sunday to you!

Ann Rogers said...

Soooo like where you are going with this style! Have you ever looked at Carolyn Anderson's paintings, think you might like her approach.

Carol Flatt said...

Truly stunning, Lorraine. I think your idea of approaching a painting with a single objective is excellent. Your focus, then, is only on that one goal with which you can play and experiment. I would say you accomplished it beautifully. The cool blues next to the seething oranges are eye-catchers. I also like your loose brushwork.

claire christinel said...

Lorraine I love what your doing! Your version of this model is so alive and full of emotion. The colours and brushwork or so energetic. Keep it coming!

Victor Errington said...

Hi Lorraine.
Another brilliant portrait. please stick with this style, it`s brilliant.
All the best lorraine.
vic.
P.s. Thanks for the link to Jacob Collins.

suzannepaints said...

THIS IS STUNNING, LORRAINE! YOU'RE ON TO SOMETHING...

Carol Schiff Daily Painting said...

Beautiful, Lorraine, both this post and the one before. Love those edges, nobody does it as well as you!

hmuxo said...

SOOOOO beautiful, Lorraine! The color is gorgeous. I hope you do future paintings like this...

Dean H. said...

Love it, Lorraine! I have used the same tactic also.
As I understand it,there is no danger of copyright infringement as long as the original artist is accredited and you don't try to sell it as your own.

Virginia Floyd said...

Lorraine, this is beautiful! I love your loose brushstrokes (as always). And the play between warm and cool colors is wonderful. Your painting is not at all a copy...well, maybe the pose. But what you have done is entirely YOU. I love it!

Under the willow tree said...

I absolutely love this painting.. the reds against the blue background is so beautiful. I have been doing nude drawing for a couple of years now and I also find it hard almost impossible to draw a nude without the model in front me...