Wednesday, April 2, 2014

More girls in the studio

"Figure 6"
I am playing hooky from my normal "Room of the week" post today but I will be back with it next week.

A month or so ago, I painted "Figure 6", a 30 x 40 oil and charcoal on linen. It was really popular and is on consignment in a penthouse staged for sale at the Ritz in Baltimore. Ever since I have been really hooked on figural paintings.

"Figure 9"

I had fun with "Figure 9" last weekend. My sketching was much looser than normal and I let that show by adding less paint too.

"Figure 8"
I have never claimed to be a patient girl and I posted this one as finished when it was incomplete and flawed. I finally satisfied myself yesterday and posted it with confidence.
I worked on "Figure 8" alongside a commissioned nude over the weekend and had an "Aha" moment when working on the commission. I discovered that I love the short, squarish strokes gave the figure the edgy quality I was looking for without looking like an outline or sacrificing curves.
That said, I still love flowy brushstrokes.

Small series figural nudes on linen
My small series are built around flowy brushstrokes and those lines are necessary to portray the human figure but I am liking a balance between the two.
This is a classic subject in Western art but not everyone likes it as a subject. I grew up with nudes in my house that were painted by grandmother, like the one below. We are very comfortable with them and I find them very beautiful.

Nude by Elisabeth B. Iddings (my grandmother)
Are you drawn to figural art or other subjects?

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I particularly love Figure 8. Is it going up for sale or was it commissioned for someone?

Kristen @ Pursuing Vintage said...

They are all beautiful! I don't mind nudes or figurals (though I think the female body is much better painted than the male!).
I love the piece by your grandmother - the contrast of the black & white is nice.

Vel Criste said...

Your girls are all lovely Kerry. Your really getting the hang of doing these!

Elizabeth @ The Little Black Door said...

I love the figures and love that they are on linen.

Elizabeth "Libby" Day said...

I find your abstract interpretations of the woman's body to be refreshing. I'm not necessarily comfortable with a more literal painting in my home, but find your girls to be quite lovely with a degree of modesty.

Unknown said...

I am so in love with your figural paintings! Number 9 is my absolute favorite. I need a nude in here!!

Linda {Calling it Home} said...

I love figure 8, those colors and pose are lovely.

Andrea said...

I love these so much, Kerry!! The lines and colors are so beautiful.

XOXO,
The Glam Pad

Julia Ryan said...

LOVE them! I think they are so classic and elegant and can really elevate a room. Yours are gorgeous. That figure 8 is is stunning.

House@heart said...

These sketcy nudes are so beautiful!! You are so talented, but then again, how could you not be?? Your grandmother's painting is gorgeous too!!
Ozana