Secret Smile
Often people only think that the "Mona Lisa" had a secret smile. But this kind of smile is intriguing, it asks so many questions. Most people just wander in their day preoccupied in their stuff, but an artist like me will have the honor to look around and observe and start asking questions. A one sided internal conversation starts and that is where I start clicking the camera. If I am observing and asking, my artist wants to share the moment that I see.
I did a layout for this painting that I wanted and then started that internal conversation again. I hear that you are not crazy if you don't answer, however I answer.... My question was atmosphere, what would his internal conversation look like in an image. So I gave myself permission to relax and let things flow. I used Dr. Ph Martin Hydrus paint, alcohol and water and there you go. I did this wonderful man, painting with Windsor and Newton watercolor markers, not knowing if I could make a success of it. I have never used them before. But his image begged not to be done in a way I am normally comfortable with. It was like this kind of emotion and thinking needs something special. I had to grow and give faith to the process of creation and let the medium take me to help me express him, and his thoughts.
I guess the artistic letting go is part of the success of this painting. I had to let my inexperience with the medium and no expectation of the result enhance the privacy of his thinking. This is one of my favourite paintings. So much growth and trust...
.
I did a layout for this painting that I wanted and then started that internal conversation again. I hear that you are not crazy if you don't answer, however I answer.... My question was atmosphere, what would his internal conversation look like in an image. So I gave myself permission to relax and let things flow. I used Dr. Ph Martin Hydrus paint, alcohol and water and there you go. I did this wonderful man, painting with Windsor and Newton watercolor markers, not knowing if I could make a success of it. I have never used them before. But his image begged not to be done in a way I am normally comfortable with. It was like this kind of emotion and thinking needs something special. I had to grow and give faith to the process of creation and let the medium take me to help me express him, and his thoughts.
I guess the artistic letting go is part of the success of this painting. I had to let my inexperience with the medium and no expectation of the result enhance the privacy of his thinking. This is one of my favourite paintings. So much growth and trust...
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