"Yer Blues"
This piece won second place in the pastel category of the American Artist Magazine’s 70th Anniversary Competition.
Pastel on Kitty Wallis sanded pastel paper, from “The White Album” series. The tooth of this sanded paper takes many layers of pastel. I prime the surface with rust colored nupastel rubbed in with turpenoid before working.
“Yer Blues” incorporates a reference to the devastation of 9/11 in the airplane vapor trail and the overall blues of the color scheme. The sand sifting through my son’s hands is meant to be a statement that life in the US as we once knew it is forever changed.
“Yes I’m lonely, wanna die. If I ain’t dead already, girl you know the reason why.” ~ The Beatles
"Yer Blues" belongs to the following groups:
1 on 1: The Fine Art of Portraiture , ! 100% !, "Real" Life Artwork (No Photography), Contemporary Pastel Painters, Contemporary Professional Painters and Sculptors, Fine Arts and Realist Traditional Art Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints and Framed Prints
Paul Vanzella
great illustration style – love the way the light creeps through the hair onto the face!
modernlifeform
fancey seeing you here..
I allways liked this :D
mgadise2
eye catching style…nice to see your work.
mieclarke
I love this art. Very interesting.
andrea verstegen
I love your portraits. They are so human. I feel as though I know every one of them and you show great fondness and love for your subjects. Well done.
Lindsay Blamey
Great work.. Love your choice of moments to draw… just brilliant
Linda Bennett
Beautifully done!!!! Great detail!!
Charlie
Alice, I love your work and depth in capturing your children! Bravo!!
Sean Farragher
brilliant
Lisa Hill
Your amazing! x
Birgitta
Alice, you’re amaaaaazingly talented!!
I don’t have the patience for this kind of stuff.
I barely made it through 5,000 diapers…much less drawing them for
the next 20 years. ha. What a great Mom you are. :)
Martina Ströbel
beautilful light, colour and details!
Vasile Stan
To me this is a bright portrait with a festive air and feel. A joyeuse and content smile on your son’s face with love emanating from his look. Outstanding and memorable.
Mariska
wonderful piec of art , wonderful words …..:0)
Gregory Ewanowich
Beautiful work! You have mastered the basic principles of what makes a good art piece! The perception of edges, spaces, relationships, light, shadow and gestalt , are all present in your work and extremely well executed! I hope to get there someday, with a little more practice and hard work. Your pieces of ART ( capitals intentional) are very inspirational to me!
TonySleep
Another ace piece
Jan Piller
A masterpiece – so emotive and beautiful!
BarbBarcikKeith
Outstanding workmanship and talent.. all I can add to what’s already been said is my very own WOW!!!
Alice McMahon ... replied
Thank you Barb! :)
Suzanne Buckland
I always said your son is a hunk :)
Alice McMahon ... replied
LOL! You wouldn’t be the first Suzanne! :)
Abdelaziz Alsa...
amazing
EvaLarsen
Great Pastel drawing. You are must talented.
syd baker
Love the way you thoughtfully decide on the emotional concept, incorporate the Beatles music (which I still listen to regularly), and your family members, plus your dynamite pastel abilities!!
Alice McMahon ... replied
High compliment coming from someone like you who is so creative with his work! Thank you syd – now – back to work with both of us! :-) xx
lindybird
I just listened to this song yesterday (gee-
‘yesterday’). I frequently play Beatles tunes while I’m teaching-it’s so inspiring. What could be more inspiring than the Beatles and one’s own children? Beautiful, Alice. I can almost see the blood pulsing through his veins. I love the lavender/yellow complements on his left arm.Alice McMahon ... replied
He was so mad at me for taking that photo. :) One of those days.
The reference was nearly black in the shadows, poor photo. That summer, I spent lots of time observing and taking mental notes about what really happens in shadows in bright sunshine. I think I pulled off those lessons fairly well here, but every time I do this type of painting, it’s very intimidating. Thank you Linda. Beatles are awesome, so are you. :)
Estelle O'Brien
Beautiful pastel work, I especially like your use of light and shadow…I have already learned from looking at this lovely painting!
Alice McMahon ... replied
Thank you Estelle, I just noticed this comment today. I learned much painting this one! lol xx
dawndavies
fabulous!!!
Peter Searle (...
Thank you for taking the time to share your fabulous technique, as there are many of us who love to know the details, which can be extremely informative.
Alice McMahon ... replied
Thanks Peter. This bit was written for the Artist’s Magazine feature. They wanted details, so I gave em details! :)
Marion Chapman
Alice McMahon ... replied
Such a surprise to be featured in Works On Paper! Thank you Marion.
sandysartstudio
beautiful eye catching work. He is so real. The painting has a lay back style. great
Alice McMahon ... replied
Thanks Sandy – your work is outstanding. I’m watching you! ;)
RuthBaker
This beautiful, great technique.