Photo and painting of JS Sargent’s teacher Carolus-Duran. Painting not made from photo. Photo taken (possibly?) to resemble the painting. Posted by James Gurney
Would you be surprised to see that a painter who depended on patrons’ funds applied a bit of painterly flattery to his portraits?
Take a look at this portrait above by John Singer Sargent, of his teacher Carolus-Duran. See how the angles of the eyebrows have been accentuated, and the mustache lifted? Notice also the nose is more aquiline, the face is more smooth, cheekbones more sculptural, and narrow. These lifts are more pleasing to both the owner of the face, and those who gaze upon it.
Check your realism. Charismatic flattery is a valued skill, and a well paid friend.
[image_with_animation image_url=”10063″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Ezra Siegel Phase 1: Make a shape, or choose a simple object. Place that simple shape inside a small rectangle and consider the space around it to make a composition. Save this. Then repeat the process, placing the same basic shape on the same sized rectangle, in a different …
[image_with_animation image_url=”10254″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Lucy Garnett, Notan Study, Salish Sea The Salish Sea Art Show In conjunction with Fredericka Foster’s Art & Activism; The Salish Sea class series, the League will be hosting a juried Salish Sea art show September 15-16, 2018. You do not need to be an active member of the …
William Scott (1913 – 1989) British artist, known for still-life and abstract painting. He is the most internationally celebrated of 20th-century Ulster painters. (wiki) Yesterday I posted charcoal drawings by William Scott. Today I’m posting his paintings. I look at these as a series of compositional experiments. I like to look at each object that he separated, grouped. …
Every week in figure drawing I teach a different drawing approach. Today was straight line measures; which always feels to beginners like they’re getting tangled up in bicycle spokes, but it’s invaluable and even relaxing for returning students. The basic idea of straight line measures is that you use straight lines to measure out the …
The Charismatic Flattery of JS Sargent
[image_with_animation image_url=”10515″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”]
Photo and painting of JS Sargent’s teacher Carolus-Duran. Painting not made from photo. Photo taken (possibly?) to resemble the painting. Posted by James Gurney
Would you be surprised to see that a painter who depended on patrons’ funds applied a bit of painterly flattery to his portraits?
Take a look at this portrait above by John Singer Sargent, of his teacher Carolus-Duran. See how the angles of the eyebrows have been accentuated, and the mustache lifted? Notice also the nose is more aquiline, the face is more smooth, cheekbones more sculptural, and narrow. These lifts are more pleasing to both the owner of the face, and those who gaze upon it.
Check your realism. Charismatic flattery is a valued skill, and a well paid friend.
–> Starting Monday, July 24: “How to paint from your own photographs.” An art camp for teens.
Related Posts
SAL Challenge: One Shape, Placed Repeatedly
[image_with_animation image_url=”10063″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Ezra Siegel Phase 1: Make a shape, or choose a simple object. Place that simple shape inside a small rectangle and consider the space around it to make a composition. Save this. Then repeat the process, placing the same basic shape on the same sized rectangle, in a different …
CALL FOR ART: Salish Sea
[image_with_animation image_url=”10254″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Lucy Garnett, Notan Study, Salish Sea The Salish Sea Art Show In conjunction with Fredericka Foster’s Art & Activism; The Salish Sea class series, the League will be hosting a juried Salish Sea art show September 15-16, 2018. You do not need to be an active member of the …
William Scott’s Paintings
William Scott (1913 – 1989) British artist, known for still-life and abstract painting. He is the most internationally celebrated of 20th-century Ulster painters. (wiki) Yesterday I posted charcoal drawings by William Scott. Today I’m posting his paintings. I look at these as a series of compositional experiments. I like to look at each object that he separated, grouped. …
How to Draw a Pear
Every week in figure drawing I teach a different drawing approach. Today was straight line measures; which always feels to beginners like they’re getting tangled up in bicycle spokes, but it’s invaluable and even relaxing for returning students. The basic idea of straight line measures is that you use straight lines to measure out the …