Of all the portraits and figurative works to choose from, I find it interesting (and gratifying) that fellow artists from EBSQ chose to feature "One Down, Two to Go" in today's spotlight. As with most of my paintings, there's a story behind why the foreground figure's head goes beyond the canvas. His face is not visible, yet it is still very much a portrait in that those who know him immediately recognize him by his body language, environment and activity. The 'slice of life' activity is the subject of the painting and his body language indeed tells the tale. His four-year-old daughter took the photo that I used as a reference and the painting is very true to what she captured as a moment in their daily lives. After all, our activities as people extend us all beyond the page, don't you think?
I had the opportunity to get my first public reaction to this painting in my recent solo show. Some "got it" and some didn't... but it was not neutral. That bit of mystery and handling of the face, or lack thereof, caused conversation and inquiry and perhaps a questioning within of how we see the world around us. I can live with that! Here's the spotlight:
EBSQ Spotlight on Portraits & Figurative Art: Pat DeVane Burns
by blumoo on May 13, 2010
This month’s
featured gallery is
Portraits & Figurative Art. Portraits are the artistic representation of an individual or individuals with the face as the focus. The term “figurative art” most frequently refers to the representational depiction of a human or animal figure. Often they are deeply personal – either to the artist, because of the emotions being expressed by the subject or because of the emotions these works illicit from us. They delight, disturb and connect us. During the month of May, we are going to take a few moments to catch up with some of the EBSQ artists that create some of these evocative pieces of art.
Pat DeVane Burns
"One Down, Two To Go" - Pat DeVane Burns
"What is so intriguing to me about forms and faces, be it person or animal, is that each one is an individual… alike in so many ways, but different. It is my challenge as the artist to see what is unique about the body language, the nuance of expression, the coloration, the personality and to translate what might be considered intangible into a tangible painting of that individual". – Pat DeVane Burns
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I never seem to be able to get one finished (still working on the cowboys!) before I get excited about a new one... in this case, three new ones! This series of three paintings shows my Dad winning over the cautious adoration of my grandbaby, Brooke. I can read his lips as he sings "Won't You Come Over My House?" just as he did when I was a little girl.
Shirley Stafford, an excellent artist friend of mine, suggested I do an underpainting in yellow on these, so I'm giving it a try. They are in oils and each canvas is 24" x 30" x 1-1/2" gallery wrap..jpg)
Still lots and lots to do, but I think I'm going to leave the background very simple with just the hint of the window, focusing all the attention on the relationship of my Daddy to his great granddaughter.
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