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| Waiting for Harry, acrylic on panel, 20x16 |
I hung a few paintings at CAG, 99 Main Street in Halifax VA. Among them is an early acrylic, Waiting for Harry.
Harry was our letter carrier in Brookeville MD in the 70s, when Brookeville was still mostly rural. One woman liked to wait at her mailbox for Harry and, in cold weather, she sometimes wore only her fur coat (don't know how Harry knew that). I never met her but I imagined she might look like this. I like the impatient attitude and the knife-wielding shadow in this one.
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I absolutely LOVE her in the red dress! and her body, her hips, her attitude is awesome.
ReplyDeleteThanks Robin. I thought the red dress might match the attitude.
ReplyDeleteQuite the dame, Hallie! Her shadow could be on the shower curtain at the Bates Motel.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Robin. Who knew a woman of a certain age could look so awesome even with her middle age tummy! I love that you painted her from your imagination but with realism, Hallie. That driveway is just amazingly beautiful too! Nothing but a fur coat? Egads!
ReplyDeleteHi Sam. You're right--there should be a tall house in the background.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Autumn Leaves. It was the mailbox that took time; I stood next to ours for a while trying to figure out how she might wait--and I'm a leaner. I remember using a Golden product to add texture to the driveway.
Harry BETTER not be late! Excellent. I like how you captured a real person in a real situation that painter's don't usually capture. (Even if she is from your imagination). The painting tells tells a story. Some story. And I am glad I am not in her way. Tell me, how do you always find a way to be unique?!
ReplyDeleteHallie, great piece. I like the way we are looking down at the woman and how she exudes attitude. The knife-wielding shadow is an interesting element and anchors her firmly against the mailbox. Did the mailman have to get up his courage to approach the street?
ReplyDeleteI remember this one Hallie. I loved it before and I love it now. I'm sure it will show well.
ReplyDeleteI always love how you "see".
I agree with everything Robin said and would like to add how much I love the way you placed the viewer above her. I almost feel voyeuristic - and with the red dress and waiting attitude I can't help but wonder what her intentions with Harry really were.
ReplyDelete-Don
wow what a painting! I love the vantage point..like you are a bird in a tree across the street. How do you come up with these things?? It is fantastic! One has to wonder, was it the mail, or was it Harry that made her so devout?
ReplyDeleteBy her attitude, Harry had better be on time! Her impatience is palpable. Harry must have been some guy to have her greet him with nothing but a fur coat. Your work is always so expressive.
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Thanks Dan. I can't remember whether I pictured the woman, then put her in the story--or thought of the story first, then came up with the woman. And, every person's view is unique!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary. Harry was a very nice guy and I think this woman lived alone (probably back off the main road). I studied my shadow at my mailbox--neighbors might have thought I was drunk, standing in the sun, and leaning on my mailbox.
Pamo. We all see--especially you. How else could you have come up with your cartoon scenes?
Hi Don. I almost drew this scene as a window view. For some reason, I see things from above when I'm imagining a scene--a bit like Google Earth. There was a time when aerial views were popular--I would have been very good. Sometimes, it takes many sketches to bring an imaginary scene down to eye-level--I find it hard.
ReplyDeleteCeleste, thank you. Bird's eye seems to be my natural view. I suspect the woman was waiting for Harry--not the mail. My guess is he might have been her only human contact; and she might have wanted more than conversation--or she might have just liked the feel of fur against her skin.
ReplyDeleteHi LifeArtist. Your portraits always show great attitude and I especially like your larger women. In my sculpture classes, we had large live models--they were wonderful. I need to find some here in VA.
ReplyDeleteThank you, BrandNewStudio.
Your wall at Convergence looks great Hallie! It has really inspired others to put up their art as well! Large women in Southern Virginia? Lets see......
ReplyDeleteSouthern Plenty--I look forward to seeing work from the other artists. I've met most of the members but don't know their work. Thanks, Mary.
ReplyDeleteI love this! Such a story you can create for it :) I'm thinking she's saying, "And you'd damned well BETTER pick up my letter this time!" ha ha
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