6.06.2012

Black Earring

Sometimes the most interesting thing about a portrait is not the likeness of a face but the way lines and shapes are organized to make that likeness. For the most part I think, I hope, I achieved a likeness of the model in this painting... but more importantly the question is, "Is it interesting to look at?" This is a constant challenge to artists, me included. My attempt at interestingness (not a word, I know) for this piece was to get down on the canvas a sort of lyrical rhythm I saw on the model, a swoop of the hair down to the ear, a line carried over into the half circle of the hair clip, a dark shape on the back of the neck blending into the scarf carrying a line of movement down and away from the face...



Black Earring 
10x12 inches - Oil on linen 
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14 comments:

Jacqueline Hill said...

legendary! I love it!

Kathleen said...

Hello again! Beautifully done! Look forward to your posts and love to see your work.

Valérie Pirlot said...

Beautiful! You show that less is more and that it is always best to suggest things rather than depict them with too much details. Very inspiring! Thanks for sharing.

Paula said...

Really nice painting! I love the colors.

Buy oil paintings online said...

Really very good painting!,Hard work by you

canvas prints said...

well done with your painitng, it looks reall good

Michael William said...

Hey Justin,

Curious why you seem to have dropped off the face of the earth. Is there another place that you are posting recent work?

Justin Clayton said...

Hey Mike, nope this is where you'll see the latest work. Life has been busy lately... just trying to fit it all in:)

Michael William said...

Ah, well good to hear you've been busy and I can't wait to see the next piece! I'm sure it's been said a thousand times, but you do amazing work.

Unknown said...

It has been created so beautifully that no body can stop praising it.Lovely post.
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Just an accountant said...

It's amazing how you've made the black earring the central focus of the picture - beautiful!

Anjolie Ela Menon said...

Outstanding work. Looks so real! Good job and keep up the good work! Really enjoying your work!

Buy Oil Painting said...

Amazing work, Every stroke is so balanced. Simply I love it.

Shelley Whiting's art said...

This picture is very elegant and the black earring is exceptional and masterfully rendered.