Modigliani has been invading my thoughts and canvas this month. He is the inspiration gifted to me by Priti Lisa in our Magical Journal Journey.
His is such a tragic tale, of illness, addictions, death and broken-hearted suicides. He sold few paintings in his lifetime and was once again only really valued after we had lost him. So tragic to think that his TB could have been cured just years later.
Would his output have suffered though had he been in the fullness of health and free of addiction? Did he have to be tortured to be a genius. I hope not. I will admit to having a few oddments of eccentricity in my own creative basket, but would not want to be standing on a precipice to create my masterpieces.
As always I must thank the Master whose lessons I lapped up this month. Modigliani taught me a refreshing simplicity in portraiture. Painting in his style felt almost like taking aim with a camera. I snapped and captured in a moment a fleeting expression. I don't even know if that is what he intended his portraits to be, but it doesn't really matter. We all take our own lessons.
The nude at the top of the post was quite a departure for me. I rarely stray further down than the neck when it comes to figurative drawing. I thought I would be brave and daring and experimented with a number of sketches before settling on this pose.
I love how these projects push us from our comfort zones and surprise us when we discover that drawing a nude figure isn't quite as tricky as I thought it would be - especially when you're borrowing the loose style of Mr M (I shall call him that from now on as it's too hard to get the spelling right!).
Mr M met my style in this next piece.
I had intended to take it further, but once this layer had dried I rather fell in love with the simplicity so decided to let her be. I wonder what or who she is looking at...
It was hard to force myself to keep the features flatter than I normally would and I know I put far too much detail in this lady's eyes. I painted them too big and I don't think there's enough angle in the nose. We can be so critical once a piece of work has gone in the post!
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This is a wonderful post with fabulous art.
ReplyDeleteHave a happy evening
Nicole/Beadiwright
What a wonderful nude, so graceful! And I love the free flowing sketches too. So true, your musings on Modigliani... I always thought art history was a bit dull (I only wanted to paint!) but I've got a new appreciation for it now. Finding out more about the person behind the art is fascinating. So many had tragedies and sickness and addictions. And little recognition until they were gone. Now THAT is sad! (I think Van Gogh sold only one painting during his lifetime.)
ReplyDeleteThis Journey has been so much fun already! I don't think I'd have stepped this far out of my comfort zone otherwise. LOVE your faces too, so happy I'll get to see them "in the flesh" although not for a while.
Good stuff...i have been away so long and it is always os refreshing to visit your page and read your words and see your work...always an inspiration to me!
ReplyDeleteI am a long time modigliani fan, which mad e this all the more precious to me! I have often wondered about many of the same things you did about his life and work..
Thanks for sharing it all!
Fabulous Mr M inspired work Lisa! I love how you interpreted Mr M differently to me but still captured his style and then mixed it with your own beautiful approach. Well done for braving the nude - it turned out wonderfully. I very much like the black & white & collage - so effective. And then the final painting is so Mr M in neck and nose especially but is enhanced by your own talent with eyes. Beautiful work that I'm sure Lisa will love and cherish.
ReplyDeleteI am very behind with Maggie's journal, I didn't get until the 2nd half of this month and then went away for a few days. But I have planned out and pencil sketched and hope to make some real progress with the paint tomorrow. I shall be as quick as I can but sorry for any delay.
Hugs
Kat xx