Lincoln Cropped.
My new job is seriously cutting into my painting time. Here is part of a large unfinished portrait of Lincoln it ran out of steam on two weeks ago. It's mostly done, but the hands that are hard to see it the photo. I think I need to photograph reference to finish. Anyone have Lincoln hands and live in Southern California? The full painting is about 16x24 the crop is about 11x15 oil on wood. Why Lincoln? Your guess is as good as mine. I always wanted to paint him. Had a love affair with the penny as a child. I don't know how much more you can bring to the most famous photo of him by Mathew Brady, but I gave it a shot. For years I didn't do it as I felt Mark Ryden artisticly owns his image, but as you can see I changed my mind. A nod to Keewon Hong http://keewonhong.blogspot.com/ who's portrait of a civil war General reawakened my dormant need.
Labels: Lincoln
posted by william wray at 10:40 PM
21 Comments:
Wow, what a switch from plein air!
I think so far it looks really good. Are you going to stay with the lighter colored coat, or are you working your way toward a darker one? I personally like the lighter one. Great job with the lanky features, as well.
You might check out Otto Bettman for a shot of Lincoln's hands. He owns a huge collection of photographs ranging from forever to forever, and I remember on being a photo of Lincoln with two generals standing around discussing something. Anyway one of his hands are in his coat, I can't remember now if you can see the other. It's worth a shot.
I was going to post another big landscape, but thought a change was in order to fight Blogger bordom. You know how these kids today love Lincoln.
I think I really want to pose a model. Hands are tough.
Well if he was anything like the Lincoln in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure...I suppose he'd have my vote.
Do Lyndon B. Johnson next!
Blogger boredom on your site - not a chance.
BG I hate to admit it Dude, but I never saw B and T E A--
Wooooah.
Cara-- It happens to the best of us.
Glam-- I only paint assassinated presidents, not Presidential Assassins. Badda - bing-- I kid.
Lincoln looks great as-is! He don't need no steenkin' hands!
Looks like a very loveable Lincoln! Let's see GW next. I'm gonna go get me some cherries!
Bill.. this certainly captures the essence of Lincon me thinks (even though we never met LOL). Seen a few pics of the dude.. and you caught him.. and the period I might add.
I love the sculptural feel of it. Would love to see more figurative work.
FYI:
"Lincon Cropped" should be "Lincoln Cropped" (missing the "L").
Thanks Andy, I had it right in the body of the post, but the title was a brain fart.
Will I like the portrait as is.. but will make a decision when I see the mitts. I think the analogous color scheme works quite nicely but don't know why exactly. Perhaps it unifies .. ? Oh well I like the painting very mucho. I just flashed on an image.. Lincoln with something that rhymes with mitts. I need a nap....
Hey Michael-- thaks I'm still feeling shaky about firures and only a little less so on faces.
thanks Mike C!
Ed I'm trying ,but don't ofnten post it-- It's just not good enough.
Wk-
Lincoln with Tits sounds like an old National Lampoon cover.
wow,lincoln`s oil painting seems so thin.
Geez, how lucky are you that I got a bee up and went hunting for Lincoln photos this afternoon because of a reference on my start page to medical experts thinking that they could have saved him with today's technology. This is a great site, lots of pics with his hands.
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/slavery/abraham-lincoln/abraham-lincoln-pictures.htm
looks fine without, but you do have all that extra canvas, though you could reframe it...
best wishes,
TK
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