Thursday, August 23, 2012

Moonlight Does Not Become Her


Moonlight Does Not Become Her, in progress
Oil Pastel on Sennelier O/P card, 18x22

I've been away from painting and blogging for almost a month.  I have managed to make it to my Painting-at-the-Y on Thursdays where I attack my paper with oil pastels.  When I'm in this mood I use myself as a model; I'm not quite finished with the cigarette and reflections on eyeglasses.

I will add this to my PWTO series (Painting While Ticked Off).  I like it!  Now I feel better.
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40 comments:

  1. Yeah! a new post... I always look forward to seeing what you are up to - you certainly captured the essence of Hallie, but who knows you better than you! Love your portrait, your eyes, your expression, details are fabulous, didn't know you were a smoker but the cigarette definitely adds to an attitude... moonlight actually does become her.

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    1. Hi Robin--it has been a hectic month; little painting or drawing, not even on the iPad. I was on the front porch trying to photograph the full moon when it disappeared behind clouds. That's when I aimed the iPad at me--awful, ugly, up-close photo--exactly what I like to paint when I'm angry. This is probably streetlight instead of moonlight and I tried to select ugly colors (I think I succeeded).

      I thought the cigarette was necessary. Yes, I am among the idiots who still smoke, though not when painting or iPadding. It will definitely hasten my demise.

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  2. I can't tell you how much I've missed your art and blogs. I know it hasn't been that long- but you are a very bright spot in this art world.

    I love this self portrait- the colors and composition. PWTO works. WOW Hallie! You knocked it out of the ball park!!!

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    1. PAMO, thank you. I always like these ticked-off ones. This one probably has several pounds of oil pastels on it and has been scraped with razor blades a few times. Anger management, I suppose--and it's not finished yet. Fire on the end of the cigarette or ready-to-fall ashes; I can't decide.

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  3. Wow, Hallie, great painting to say hi with! Love it!

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  4. Ooo... scary!
    Hope I never get on the end of the short stick.

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    1. I think you're safe, SamArtDog. Besides, my weapons of choice are jumbo oil pastels.

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  5. But you don't look ticked off - you look like you are thinking of a private joke! Maybe how you are going to dismember whomever you are ticked off at.

    Well, I've missed you, and am glad you're back.

    Great drawing - you have definitely captured you, except I see nothing surreal here, what's with that?! ;)

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    1. Hi Dan. I wasn't ticked off in the photo (I was looking for the moon). I was ticked off during painting. Ninety percent of this was painted upside-down with giant oil pastels--imagine an angry kid with BIG crayons.

      Her upper lip is a bit long; I considered adding a Dali mustache (really).

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  6. Very beautiful your paintings. I love the expression and the color range of your work. You're very talented, greetings from Argentina.

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    1. Inaki--thank you. You have beautiful work on your blog; I took a quick look and will visit again.

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  7. OMG..it's fantastic! The cigarette is just the right touch. I smoked for many years --I should have guessed that you are a "buck the system" type of gal! Perhaps because I was a long term smoker (I started at something like 14) I still harbor feelings of resentment toward people who blather on about how wrong it is. "make it illegal, or leave me alone" was my mantra. haha. I read somewhere that David Hockney returned to England because Californians kept bitching at him for smoking. Really glad you are back--and I LOVE this portrait.

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  8. Ah, Celeste--you were very smart to quit. I tried all the methods--hypnosis, patches, etc; now I'm just too old to worry about it. Southern Virginia is tobacco country; we even have a discount drive-thru where cartons can be bought. Hockney could have moved here but all our restaurants are now no-smoking. There aren't a lot of us left and, mostly, we smoke on our porches. I did buy stock in Altria and Philip Morris years ago--I've made money but probably not enough to cover my expensive habit.

    I have to store my paintings in our non-smoking guest house or cover them in my workshop--a hassle. You'd probably get kicked out workshops if you lit up. I do think this painting needed the cigarette--and I debated about posting it.

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  9. This piece tickled me pink and why? Well, I think when I read your response to Celeste, I see that it is because your spirit and personality that you show in your words comes through in this piece! I love that look in your eyes too. One of my favorites yet, Hallie. Truly phenomenal!!

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    1. Thank you, Crimson Leaves. Was it your mother who was hospitalized because of smoking? It is a terrible habit, but I'm a great water-only drinker--maybe the toxins get flushed.

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  10. Replies
    1. Thank you, Rhonda. Your recent paintings of pears are wonderful.

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  11. Yeah. If you have it, smoke it.
    Big up.

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    1. SamArtDog, I've got three cartons, old table lighters, old zippos, old pincherette ashtrays, a long ivory cigarette holder, an antique lady's cigarette case, and a coin silver Fatima cigarette box. I might just take it all with me when I go (probably won't need the lighters).

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  12. Everette, the Anonymous left a comment which I accidentally deleted:

    "A great PWTO; good work."

    Thank you Anonymous--I'm sorry my fat finger hit delete instead of publish. It's probably age-related.

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  13. Hi Hallie--What a beauty--the shiner. I'm voting for about a one and a half inch ash--bent. Super idea. It would complete the statement you're making. The tension would be amazing. What is that about four minutes of perfect stillness? That glare? The not so smiling smile? She's ticked all right. Best.

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    1. Hi William. I does look like a shiner--I should probably lighten the under eye or darken that side of the face. I was aiming for violet but missed and decided to leave it dark. A long ash is my plan; in fact, I just created a model but it's now scattered on the floor.

      Four minutes of perfect stillness? Can one actually do that?

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  14. You are one wild and crazy artist !! You couldn't work the bourbon in there?

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    1. DLPR (Sue)--unfortunately, or fortunately, alcohol tastes like medicine to me and gives me a headache. One bad habit is enough. I didn't know you had a second blog--looks like you're enjoying lots of fresh air.

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  15. Hallie,

    I'm baaaccck. You can delete me but you I shall return like the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

    I'm with Sue, scotch and soda, a chigger of gin, o' what a painting mood I'm in.

    PWTO and drinking.

    Everette

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  16. Anonymous--you're a a poet, too? Get some paint and a brush from Ace and start painting.

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  17. Priceless! Hallie, glad you are PWTO! I first typed POWP (P..ssed off while painting) before I checked to get it right. See what the mind will do?

    However, I don't think we've gotten to the bottom of this - what ticked you off?

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    1. Hi Mary. Originally, it was PWPO--I censored myself. Everything ticked me off--from the nasty comments about the presidential candidates down to stepping in dog poop when I untangled a neighbor's chained dog. The worst was I lost all interest in painting, drawing, or reading about art; a first for me. Because I attend Thursdays at the Y, I forced myself to paint this ugly photo from my iPad. I have an album on my iPad--Future Paintings--they were too "pretty" for my mood. I'm returning to semi-normal and looking for my lost sense of humor.

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  18. Good work!
    always like pastels, and I like the PWTO thing, glad your back (I've been gone too).
    Give it to em

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    1. Thanks, JB.. You have been away for a while; I was happy to see your new post.

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  19. I just had a thought...you could do this again to ....honor the "blue moon"...!

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    1. Hi Celeste. I just took Willie for a walk and noticed the moon over my neighbor's house--it's beautiful. Blue might be more becoming but once is probably enough (and I'm less ticked).

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    2. Yeah! but it must be said....the ticked part does absolutely give it it's edge. :)

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  20. Hi Hallie
    I've been off the blog circuit just as long as you so I didn't know that you weren't posting but I missed you anyway!!
    It's refreshing that you are sharing some of your deepest truths:you get angry, you smoke ***and*** you throw pastels.

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    1. Hi Donna. I missed your posts; even re-read some of your older ones, and I tried your gifting: "May I be at peace, may my heart remain open............May you be at peace............". I have a typed copy beside my bed.

      I can actually throw a lot of things when I'm upset.

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  21. Eyes that sparkle with a cheeky no-nonsense humour over a rakishly dangling cigarette. Challenge and invitation in the one glance. A wonderful portrait that so deftly confirms and extends lovely impressions i'd already formed. Love it!

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  22. Thanks, Harry. I see the challenge but the invitation would probably be to a shoot-out; well, maybe a horseshoe-pitching contest.

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  23. Oh Hallie, this portrait is so much you, all your humor put in here, jut LOVE it !

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    1. Thank you, Jane. It was a long, hot summer here in southern Virginia. I hope you had a great long holiday--now I look forward to your paintings.

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