After the dance

http://www.chateauversailles.fr/en/0_Iconographic_catalog.php

The Hall of Mirrors
Chateau de Versailles

When an artist friend asked me if I'd stop the dance series,
I thought about it and said no. I love the look of people dressed up.
In fact for a jeansian kind of person, I'm fond of the look of
anything dressed up, (People, houses, -- take Versailles
for instance, cities). Lately I've been dancing around the
Internet looking at so many wonderful paintings, that it's
mind blowing. But what beautiful dressed up, ready for the
big party of life, and of vision paintings I've seen -- landscapes
that are delicious, still life that just sings, portraits that
go way beyond getting the image down. I've seen exciting
use of colour, point of view, technique -- stunning stuff.
So I'm including a little after the dance painting from a
few years ago. These girls look worn out, the way I
feel when I've spent too long whirling around the
dance floor of the art universe on line.

After the Dance
acrylic on canvas
16" x 20"
sold

The painting is pretty loose, so I was amazed that not
only did it sell when I exhibited it, but I had one of
the strangest experiences of my career. A client
asked if I could do a second one. This, ladies and
gentlemen, feels like a trap when you hear the question.

Luckily I did the original painting from a photograph
I took of my models relaxing. My first Before The Dance
painting was 6' x 4' and you can see it in my first blog
in February '08. I spent quite a while on it, and
got to know the girls (daughters of my friends) well.
But the the little painting was just for fun, and I knew I couldn't
make an identical painting. So I agreed to do
another painting of the same image, on the
clear understanding that it wouldn't be the same.

I've since seen many series by reputable artists
clearly done from the same reference, so I don't
know what I was worried about.

Speaking of dancing, today my friend
Suzanne and I decided to play hooky and
we caught an afternoon showing of Mamma
Mia. The movie was panned ferociously by
Toronto critics, but it was so much fun and
the setting -- a little Greek island -- was
absolutely breathtaking. Meryl Streep is
fantastic -- and the colour and humour were
just what an artist, who's been shut in for
7 weeks needs. And the dancing was
incredibly joyous. The whole movie was both funny
and silly, beautiful and over the top. We
loved it.

Have a fun-with-friends day.

The morning after

This painting depicts the morning after the big party.
The young man has a look of resignation and is
back in the land of reality looking for work.

I like its fresh simplicity.

Have a simply wonderful night.

In a party mood

These portraits, Before the dance in the white dress,
and its twin, After the dance in the white dress,
are part of the Dance series I've been working on for
a few years. I started the theme out of respect for my
students, who emerge from time to time from the very casual
clothes they wear in class, to show an entirely different,
more timeless side of their personalities when they dress up.

I am attracted to the timeless quality of people in
fancy dress. Recently my son went to the prom
with his girlfriend, and there is no question in
my mind, that men need more occasions to dress
up. Tuxedos exude elegance, and the men who
wear them well appreciate that.

My niece, Chloé posed for these two paintings,
and did a great job conveying the mood of
anxiety before the dance, and of exhaustion
afterwards -- perhaps after a very late post-prom
party.

Have a timeless and elegant day.