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Wednesday, March 23, 2011

What I'm Up To....

I've been AWOL for a few days.  Aside from the dizzying annual event that is Kelley's Birthday, I've been focusing on developing some paintings from my NYC trip - and I'll show you one small study, it's a 6x6, but I want to do it bigger - just wanting to see about composition, etc.
This is a little girl whose parents, with me, were resting their feet at the edge of Central Park, and she was ANTSY to go-go-go~  She was rocking, tapping, humming...  backlit, with traffic in the background, and pigeons at her feet.  I adored her little outfit and her cute hairdo.  Well, I like this (and I know what you're all going to say) but my husband thinks her face is too much the same value as the building in the back.  I said that her actual face had lighter parts that I didn't paint in because it's a Work In Progress- not the finished piece.  And besides, what's wrong with a lost edge here and there?  

Anyway, between this and the 2 'wipers' this week, it LOOKS like I'm on vacation - HAH!

25 comments:

  1. I love this...you can just feel the "antsy"...

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  2. love this - but am still chuckling about your "dizzying" comment - so fun

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  3. I totally got the "antsy" and love your AWOL art experiences... hope you are enjoying your time!

    Bises,
    G

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  4. It is such a fun one, Kelley...makes me smile.

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  5. Kelley I love the central park pigeons you included in the composition! No matter how frantic the scene around them they are never loose their strut!

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  6. Love this child! Very nice highlighting on her hair and shoulders. The red ribbons and edge of her skirt add a perfect touch.

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  7. Kelley,
    I think those of us who know and understand the dizzying celebrations the week of Kelley Carey MacDonald's birthday have built in time for recuperation and the apparent need to allow for refocus time! That being said, this painting is wonderful! LOVE the antsy girl who is itching to go and even the pigeons at her feet can sense that:) This is an interesting composition with fabulous subject matter. I adore the shadows and the highlights in her hair are wicked good. All kinds of little delights in this one. (New art word in my art vocabulary- love all the different intervals! Ha!)

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  8. You did a great job in capturing her antsiness!! She is adorable and this will make a great larger painting!

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  9. Go for it! She reminds me of Pipi Longstocking!

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  10. Everyone said it so well- I love her and her little cute tights say is all- a couple pops of light on the face and she's done!

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  11. I, too, love her outfit, and you really have captured her wanting to go, go, go. My grandsons are the same way before we leave the house on the way to The Lollipop Shop. The colors in the background(the yellow of the cab) really make the figure in the foreground pop. Great painting and can't wait to see the larger version.

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  12. I really like the beginnings of this piece and I also think of Pipi Longstockings.

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  13. sandrabaggette.comMarch 24, 2011 at 8:19 AM

    Love it , this has the same sparkle of delight as your doughnuts. My bday was the 15th, I have always celebrated for years just on that alone. Do not restrict your celebrations. Sandra Baggette

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  14. Fabulous!!!! Love it and the energy she shows. Also love how you got a video to play in the right column. I'm trying to do that now on blogger. Any tips???
    xoox

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  15. You really captured her little body language. Great job. Can't wait to see the larger version. BTW. It's never a bad thing to have a few wipers! It keeps you honest!

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  16. Love city scenes, keep painting them I adore this little girl! xo

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  17. Love this, especially with the yellow taxi driving by! The lost edges are perfect!

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  18. You were right in being inspired in stead of getting "antsy" yourself, Kelley! A lovely work and the girl has a "tin soldier" appearance!

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  19. kelley, i just love this as is!! the absence of features on the face make the painting and evoke that antsy, fidgety feeling! simply wonderful!!!

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  20. I can name many a student that this reminds me of; this is wonderful just as it is!

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  21. The body language is fabulous all the way up to her hair. Your edges are wonderful, something more defined would not be in keeping with what is going on with the piece. Don't kill me, but maybe just lighter value on the face would be nice. Are you still my friend?

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  22. I like it. Dynamic composition sweet little poufy pigtails and dancing legs. Taxi makes it very New York.
    I hear ya about the 'break'.....grrrrr

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  23. Love love love this painting! Composition and Color both are wonderful! I too had a couple of "wipers" this weekend. However, this is a "keeper" Ruthie

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  24. hi kelley!
    oh my gosh!
    thsi painting gave me goosebumps!
    simply amazing work!
    xoxox
    a & m

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  25. This is great. I love the little girl--you feel like she's about to pop with energy. Love all the sheep paintings you did too--and the photo of you as "leader of the pack"!

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