The Dress


Do you remember your first formal dress? I was in the 9th grade when my mother made me a white long dress out of rows and rows of net cascading down to the floor, with a red cummerbund around the waist. It was strapless and I thought I was "It on a stick."

This painting commemorates that dress in a way. I am real excited about my technique. I guess you could call it "Mixed Media." Months ago I glued papers down on a large canvas (36 x 48"). Then I was stuck. That canvas has languished just outside my studio, taunting me. Well, yesterday I got it out, painted the collage with watered down gesso, rubbed black gesso into that when it dried to show off the yummy texture of the collaged papers. used gold gesso on the part without collage. It looked like a mountain or a pile of garbage. The maroon moon didn't help all that much. I'm not into painting landscapes, so I wasn't satisfied with it until, suddenly, there she was, my young girl in her first long dress. I hope you enjoy her.

12 comments:

Billie Crain said...

Love this! I enjoy playing with textures, too.

Lucy said...

Thanks, Billie. I looked up your website and I love your cat paintings. I, too, have cats (5) who keep me busy. The black ones are hard to draw!

Timaree said...

This is wonderful. At first it looks like an oriental painting of some sort and then you see the girl. Very nice. That's a large painting!

Your Husband said...

Holy moly Billy Batson, that is terrific! Shazam! Woohoo!

Florence's Art said...

These are really nice!
Welcome to the "Artist of the Round Table"

Laure Ferlita said...

I love the surprise of finding the girl in the upper corner! Nicely done, Lucy!

lucywarlick said...

Thanks, Laure!

Mixed Media Martyr said...

You've captured this brilliantly! Isn't it wonderful how artworks can evolve!!

Deborah said...

I really love this one! Totally intriguing...
Deborah
Glisteninthesunshine.blogspot.com

Lisa at Greenbow said...

She is marvelous in her dress of many papers. ;) I do like the way it looks as if a butterfly is at her bosom. The maroon moon makes it all seem so dramatic even though the dress and the lady is delicate.

Lucy said...

I just found out that this painting got 2nd place in the Council for the Arts (Rock Hill, SC) juried art show. Woohoo, a little money for art supplies!

Unknown said...

this is stunning. congrats on getting into the show.