Baby
acrylic on canvas
18 x 24 inches
(first steps. I've painted a ground,
drawn the baby, started to paint
her, and figure out the background design.
I think she needs a toy, so I'll ask about
that. I'm happy with her placement,
and love painting her. I have
to stay soft on her, may go
quite light with the dress, and
darken the couch. More tomorrow!)
Barbara Muir © 2009
someone who loves strong colour handle that assignment.
I even wondered myself. I've studied the baby, drawn
her picture about 10 times, thought about it, and the answer
came in a flash -- an underpainting of very soft, pale pink.
She is a very light pink colour, and is wearing a pale pink dress
in the photos I'm working from.
What you couldn't possibly know is that I've loved babies
since I was a very little girl. I was a major baby doll freak,
and almost had to have my baby doll pried from my hands
at 13 when I was starting grade nine. I more or less
adopted a couple with a beautiful baby boy on the next
block over when I was seven, and was with them as much
as possible until I moved to Toronto from Ottawa
just before my 14th birthday. When I was eleven I babysat
three of their children, and the youngest was two weeks old!
I loved babies, and that's what got me started drawing. So
as I was painting this little girl a whole slew of memories
came flooding back to me, and I realized I started out
drawing exactly this kind of picture. It's rough now, but
I'll refine it, and the whole time I'll get to stare at this
beautiful baby's face. A baby girl in a beautiful pink dress.
Heaven for me, and the seven-year-old artist child within.
The challenge of course is staying simple, and making her
alive. So I'm taking it slowly. Her dress is patterned, and
the client wants to see that. I'll figure that one out.
Meanwhile, my little baby is calling!
Have an-enjoying-the-babies-around-you day.
