When Botticelli woke up the morning after he had finished painting Venus, I wonder how he felt. Do you think he looked and thought... "Yes, Sandro. You've done it. A Masterpiece." Had he any inkling that it would become one of the most famous paintings in the world hundreds of years after he applied that final stroke to canvas? Do you think he woke with a smile? Was he happy? Was he proud of himself?
Well, I'm proud of myself! I sat down tonight for a quick sketch for 10 minutes or so. I'm planning a canvas of my own featuring the lady herself. I thought I'd try a quick graphite practice before I applied her features over my layers of collage on my big canvas.
Several hours later I put pencils down... It may be far removed from the work of a genius but this was, for me, a labour of love. I am not sure I ever enjoyed creating anything so much. I don't care if no one else thinks it is good apart from me and picks up on the mis-matched slightly wonky eyes. This was only ever meant to be a quick 10 minute sketch to get the feel for her. I just couldn't stop. I'm cold from sitting still so long and have a bit of backache from bending over my sketchbook. I had a soundtrack of just three songs playing on repeat keeping my Muse flowing. I daredn't change them for fear of scaring her off. My iTunes shows rather a large number of plays for Hayley Westenra this evening. I am so pleased with this piece.
Oh, and before I go to bed... One more thing. Look at that nose! I did it. I actually drew a nose I'm happy with. Well... I did have some guidance from a Master. Thanks Sandro!
The scan is a bit of a disappointment with some colours going awry and losing the blue background entirely, but you get the gist. And the original has some red blob on it because I was just using up a slightly damaged page in my sketchbook! Typical!
This seems the perfect post to share with Jamie Ridler's Happy Group this week as it certainly put a smile on my face :). It is also my first entry for the Following the Masters group - inspired as it is by the topic this month - the Italian Renaissance.
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She's so beautiful,I love her hair.And you should be proud,her nose is perfect too. I think you know thats its good when you don't care what anyone else thinks,its a weird feeling and it only happens once in awhile but its a great feeling!And that is a thought about what he felt like after he painted his master piece,did he feel like that,he did'nt care what anyone else thought,he loved it. You wonder! Really Beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteJust so lovely....I, of course, don't see any flaws but a wonderful portrait. So exciting to have your muse visit.....
ReplyDeleteOh Lisa--she's beautiful!! And look at her wonderful hair--you can just feel the wind on her face!
ReplyDeleteYes...yes..yes...she is beautiful..you did a wonderful job with her!! I was struck by her nose and her lips..such wonderful pencil work with them!!! Noses are so hard to do and the mouth can be tricky too! Wow girl She is stunning!
ReplyDeleteLisa,
ReplyDeleteyou did a fantastic job on this. I am impressed. Yes, the nose and eyes are often hard to draw. I still struggle with them big time!
Great job! :)
gorgeous!
ReplyDeletexxx Susi
Lisa, she is beautiful! It is so exciting when you get lost in a piece of work! I love that feeling.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I love getting into the zone, where you don't notice how much time passes until it is over.
ReplyDeleteWow! SO gorgeous. I would feel ecstatic if I was able to create such loveliness... oh, those feelings, those images, that color that light.
ReplyDeleteGrateful to be along on the journey from reading your blog.
Very nice eyecolor- happy week(end) to you! :)
ReplyDeletegreat job - a breath-taking beauty, you have captured the angle of her head just right. I am lucky to have seen the original, all the Botticellis just made me cry.
ReplyDeleteJust found your site - what a talent you have! She's beautiful - the work looks aged too, which is difficult to achieve.
ReplyDeleteI will be looking forward to enjoying more of your work.
Smiles,
JuliaChristie
you should be SO proud! very beautiful piece and wonderful nose! noses are challenging for me! happy weekend to you! ciao!
ReplyDeleteShe looks fabulous, you've done good
ReplyDeleteWhat a great result. She is immediately recognizable and indeed noses are so difficult to do. You got it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful drawing! It's so very clear that your muse was just aching to express herself. I had to giggle a little when you mentioned playing the three songs over and over in fear that if you stopped, she might get scared away- simply because that is so much like me! : )
ReplyDeleteI think we sometimes get a little over critical, like looking too much at something and thinking "the eyes look funny" when in reality they are terrific and as unassymetrical as nature really is. You did a great job with this and should be happy with yourself! Am sorry the coloring is a little off from your original but it is still close enough, I'm sure, for us to appreciate the delicacy.
ReplyDeleteoh the joy of a nose you can be happy with, such a rare and wonderful treat. she is beautiful and you should be proud.
ReplyDeleteI love how you painted with 3 songs locked into the moment, i know the exact same feeling, i create to billie holiday..always..the cd must be getting burnt out by now.
keep creating these beautiful ladies Lisa, im loving it
xxx
sheree