Parallel Play

So I have had a major rethink about my final project for Visual Literacy. The plan was to take the painting The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit and treat it like a series of self portraits. I am decidedly NOT doing a series of self portraits. Mind you, I had fun going my old photographs and I have my vanities but I am rather disinclined to paint myself. Plus it turns out I need practice with portraiture. 

The idea I went with instead is I reimagined what these four children where doing. Ya-Ya is clearly on the floor playing with her favorite toy but in my version she's playing with legos. The other children are on various forms of electronica. Suddenly their detachment makes all the sense in the world.

Because I am going with legos, I am granting myself relief from the monochromatic color palette for the painting. Legos use a triad palette of reds, yellows, and blues. This palette gives me access to ALL THE COLORS, but I promise to keep it simple.

For my research, I am reading the book Sargent's Daughters: The Biography of a Painter (2009) by Erica E. Hirshler. The book tells the story of how the painting came to be, where it went after it was complete, and background on both the artist and subjects. The book set me straight on which daughter is where in the picture.

According to the book, one of the reasons John Singer Sargent placed the subjects where they are in the picture is that he wanted to practice painting different values of white. Two of the sisters are in the sunlight; the two others are engulfed in shadow. So my first subversion is to get rid of the white aprons.

The book also presents a variety of critiques on the painting. Many critiques took Sargent to task for his composition. Why were all four girls standing apart and apparently not paying attention to any of the other siblings. 

For my go, I'm going to assume that each young person is engaged in something engrossing. For the youngest, it's a pile of legos. The other young women will be listening to or watching YouTube.

I'm basing the color palette on a hot-red orange, which I'll use to color the free standing screen on the right hand side of the painting. Most of the painting will be based on a range of that orange...from pale skin tone to darkened fireplace. I'll include a tiny bit of yellow and the merest smidge of turquoise blue. So in all, I have out five tubs of gouache: Flame Red, Permanent Yellow Deep, Turquoise Blue, Permanent White, and Ebony Black. 

I'm starting with the screen on the right hand of the canvas. Next, I'll do the wood floor, fireplace, walls, and ceiling. I'll tackle the vases next and check what color i get by adding Permanent White to Ebony Black. My instructor tells me that color can read blue. If it's too gray for me, I'll reach for the turquoise blue but only use a tiny bit. Blue is intense and can go a long way. 

After the vases are done I'll start with the figures. Clothes and posture first. Next their faces. I paint the rug, the lego toys, and other devices.

I'm actually looking forward to working on the dark section of the parlor. In the middle of the painting there are many objects of intersting...window, two small vases, a fireplace and a mirror. I am feeling up to the task. 

By the time I get to the legos I should have plenty of colors and more experience painting fine detail. 

All right! Here we go! I'm closing in. A few touch ups plus the earbuds and head phone for two of the sisters.