NotTheRedBaron on DeviantArthttps://www.deviantart.com/nottheredbaron/art/Family-Portrait-1972-71583669NotTheRedBaron

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Family Portrait 1972

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Description

Finally, here is the painting I mentioned in my journal last week.

This was a commission and my first painting in 2 years. It is also my first oil painting... ever.

The commission was from the son (on the right) to the father (left) for the father's 70th birthday last week. I had a reference photo to work from taken in 1972 which can be seen here: [link] I wanted the painting to be more than a copy of a photograph and so I discussed the idea of making the composition and execution of the image quite modern.

I was struck by the fact in the original photograph that both father and son had on these funky and colourful trousers. I thought it would be fun (and prudent considering I had a strict time constraint) to keep the overall image monochromatic (a rich 70's brown) but break up the browns with these bright accents of colour, highlighting what was fun about the original source material.

As I have said, this is my first oil painting which is a new medium for me. Not wishing to make my life too easy by working with one new material, I decided to add another because I wanted to give the painting some texture (as I paint very flat mostly), so I applied raw plaster to the canvas before working on the image over it.

When the 'son' first gave me the photograph I noticed there was a hand written explanation of who, what and where the photo was taken, and when I asked about this information it was explained to me that this had been written by Mum, so I decided to include this text (almost like graffiti) on the plaster behind the figures, so that Mum became a part of the image also, and the painting (albeit somewhat conceptual) became a full family portrait.

The 'son' carried the painting by hand all the way to Canada last week for Dad's birthday who apparently was overwhelmed and overjoyed.

I used a very limited palette of colours once again - prizes for the first person to guess how many. ;)

Time: 4 weeks (allowing time for plaster and other elements to dry/set.
Medium: Canvas, finishing plaster and oil paints
Reference: One fab 70's photograph from 1972
Size: 60cm x 30cm
Image size
1325x617px 1 MB
© 2007 - 2024 NotTheRedBaron
Comments60
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Eowyn831's avatar
You have a breadth and depth of talent rarely seen.
Bravo.:clap: