The Blue Shawl
Pastel on Canson paper (grey)
(Painted entirely with soft pastel and blended with fingers)
(2003 views 15/12/09)
The reference for this painting was a black & white photo of a pastel by Janet Cumbrae-Stewart (1883 – 1960). She was my husband’s great aunt.. She studied at the National Gallery School under Fred McCubbin and L. Bernard Hall, before winning a scholarship to study at the Paris Salon. She spent most of her life in Europe and her paintings of nudes are much sought after. There is a very good article about her in the book ‘Australian Women Artists’ by Janine Burke, and a number of other books have been written about her. My husband can remember her painting his portrait when he was a child, and we have several of her paintings that have been handed down through the family.
I did this painting quite a few years ago before I had access to a life drawing group! There was no shawl in the photo, so I pinned up a blue table cloth in my studio so I could get the effect of a shawl. Resourceful people sometimes aren’t we?
Featured in the Woman Appreciation Group – February 2009
Featured in the Contemporary Pastel Painters Group – March 2009
Finished in the Top 10 of the Orange/Blue complementary colours challenge in the Painted Ladies group – June 2009
Featured in the Best of group – Sept, 2009
Featured in Feminine Intent – Sept 2009
Featured in Mature Woman – Oct 2009
Featured in Art at It’s Best – Nov 2009
The Blue Shawl belongs to the following groups:
* Painted Ladies *, Art At Its Best!! - No photography, Contemporary Pastel Painters (2 per day), Featured Features - For Featured Art, Photography, T-Shirts, Writing, FEATURED ONLY, Feminine Intent (LIMIT TWO IMAGES PER DAY), First Things, Friends of RedBubble, Implied Nude, Impressionism Café, Mature Woman, Realist Traditional Art, Solo Exhibition, Symposium of Modern Realists, THE 500 TO 5000 VIEWINGS GROUP, The Best of, THE SISTERHOOD and Who can motivate me? Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints

Linda Ridpath
WOW!
Lynda Robinson replied
Thanks Linda!
Mrswillow
Beautiful Lynda! Fantastic tonal work on the back muscles!This one reminds me of a Grecian statue.
Lynda Robinson replied
Thanks Sandra. It was fun making up the colours from just observing a black and white photo. Yep – it DOES look a bit Grecian now you come to mention it.
Janis Zroback
Very effective with the shawl…if you had not said, I would have thought you had a live model..
Lynda Robinson replied
I DID have to use a lot of artistic licence with this one Janis, because I had no colours. Also the left arm was included in the photo with the hand leaning on the wall, and I didn’t like it, so I chopped it off!!!!
Richard Murch
.. Amazing work…
Lynda Robinson replied
Thank you Richard. I do appreciate your comment.
Gilberte
You are extremely talented and resourceful Linda.I know we have to be sometimes
Lynda Robinson replied
Hi Gilberte my Belgian friend! How lovely to hear from you again. Thank you very much for your lovely comment. Read the above comments to gain the full extent of my resourcefullness!!!! It was mainly an exercise for me.
Cathy Amendola
I see you have been busy, Lynda…absolutly fantastic…!!!!
Cathy
Lynda Robinson replied
No I haven’t been busy Cathy – this is an oldie!!! I’m glad you like it though.
Les Smutz
Well done, nice color contrasts in shawl and background, as well as excellent draftsmanship.
Lynda Robinson replied
Thank you very much Les. I really love painting folds in material. I appreciate your very kind comment.
GEORGE SANDERSON
Absolutley stunning work Lynda, The skintones are superb !!!!
Lynda Robinson replied
Thank you kind sir!
Virginia McGowan
excellent Lynda ,so hard to do from photos, so turned out well .
Lynda Robinson replied
Thanks Ginny.
Susan Bergstrom
Stunning piece…perfection!!!
Lynda Robinson replied
Thank you Susan.
Linda Callaghan
ok what can one say…..magnificent!! magnificent!! must go shower now….
Lynda Robinson replied
Thank you so much Linda.
Jim Phillips
Wow, I am extremely impressed with the flesh tones and muscle structures you achieved with the pastels. Gorgeous work Lynda..
Lynda Robinson replied
Thank you Jim for another very kind comment.
Helen Miles
Very lovely Robbo! The pose is beautiful as is the workwomanship!
Lynda Robinson replied
Awwwww – thanks Milesey. That is very nice fings to say!
Tracey-Anne Pryke
Gorgeous Lynda
Lynda Robinson replied
Thanks tracey. You are a very supportive RB friend!
Brian Towers
I always like the combination of colours you use, the complimentaries give glows and sparkles.
Lynda Robinson replied
Thanks Brian. I’d like to think in that case that my work reflects my ‘glowing and sparkling’ demeanour!!!! LOL!!!!
Ciska
Your pastel work is superb, you are incredible, love the colours and the composition!!!
Lynda Robinson replied
Thanks Ciska. As always, your support and comments are much appreciated.
LorusMaver
Fantastic piece Madame Chardonnay ! the textures,the light & the form. Magnificient !
Lynda Robinson replied
Thanks for a great comment ‘messy git’!!!!
Woodie
This is brilliant Lynda,
I take photo of my art work, change them to b/w to check for the right tone.
Cheers Neil
Lynda Robinson replied
Thanks for the tip Woodie. Great idea.
Hidemi Tada
very beautiful work Lynda. background also very good. your aunty must be proud of you.
Lynda Robinson replied
Thanks Hidemi – I would really love to have met her!
Colin Cartwright
I’m sure she was looking over your shoulder as you painted this, nodding approval!
This is a very fine pastel, Lynda. Particularly good skin tones and robe folds.
Lynda Robinson replied
Many thanks Colin. I often wonder if she would approve of my work as she was such a ‘master’ of pastel!
karenuk1969
Excellent art work, really beautifully done.
Lynda Robinson replied
Many thanks – I appreciate your comment very much.
Jerame *
This has been featured in the Woman Appreciation group! Congratulations!
Lynda Robinson replied
Many thanks Jerame – I really appreciate the comment and the feature.
* RoyAllenHunt *
Congratulations on being featured in Woman Appreciation group. Beautiful painting.
Lynda Robinson replied
Many thanks Roy- I appreciate your comment very much. Just had a quick look at your profile and you have some fantastic work! Will go back and have a proper look later.
Orla Cahill
Exceptional work. You are a real pro.
Lynda Robinson replied
Awwww – thanks Orla – I am flattered by your comment.
Roz McQuillan
Nice work, Lynda!
Lynda Robinson replied
Roz – as you are one of the painters I most admire on RB, I can tell you that your comment is greatly appreciated!
KazM
Congrats on being featured in Woman Appreciation
for this wonderfully lithe lady pic
Lynda Robinson replied
Thank you very much Kaz. your comment is much appreciated.
whitehawk60
this is a great job on it
Lynda Robinson replied
Many thanks whitehawk. Nice to meet you. Had a quick look at your gallery. You have some lovely work and I will go back and look at it more thoroughly. I also see you are Blended’s husband! What a lovely couple you make!
Lachinov
this is just fantastic. i love it.
Lynda Robinson replied
Thanks so much Lachinov. Your comment is greatly appreciated.
Lachinov
and the fact that the painting has such grand history is even more fantastic. well done.
rononbjr
this medium is all about structure—perfect!
Lynda Robinson replied
Thank you for a very kind comment. It is very much appreciated ronobir. Also nice to meet you via the magic of RedBubble.
Paul Starkey
Hi Lynda, How did I know that I was going to like this one? Lovely.
Lynda Robinson replied
Thanks Paul, enjoy Degas!!!
Sheila Laurens
Fabulous – it’s so beautiful
Lynda Robinson replied
Thank you very much for your interest and your comment Sheila. Much appreciated.
Paul Starkey
Hi Lynda, yes, Degas was just as you said…see bubble mail for a full rundown… hehe
Dentanarts
Beautiful work and painting! Love it! o(~_O)o
Lynda Robinson replied
Thank you for such a positive comment!
inspyretash
Beautiful colours.
Sophie Shapiro
Wonderful work!S
Mugsy
Beautiful work!
TextureoftheSin
Beautiful work – love the colours and the pose is classic
Caroline Gorka
A true talent ..thanks for sharing your work.
MistressZombie
Gorgeous colours. very classical.
~ Ademac
Stunning…....................extraordinary pastel drawing, wonderful control.
Lynda Robinson replied
Thank you for a great comment Adrian.
Alice McMahon ...
Congratulations! This work has been FEATURED in the Contemporary Pastel Painters Group
Lynda Robinson replied
How exciting to find this piece of news this morning Alice! Thank you thank you thank you!
Orla Cahill
Superb pastel work Lynda. And there is talent on both sides of your family I see. Your great-aunt-in-law a famous painters too. I’m sure she would be very proud of you her great nephew’s lovely wife. Congrats on the feature. :~)
Lynda Robinson replied
Thanks Orla for a lovely comment. I have never seen any pastel work that surpasses the work of Janet Cumrae-Stewart. I would love to have met her! I might post some of her work sometime. We have quite a few of her paintings that have been handed down in our family.
Susanne Newby
Gorgeous!!
Lynda Robinson replied
Thank you Susanne. I appreciate your comment.
Susanne Newby
ooops , did not mean to confuse you Lynda. I accidentally posted off my mom’s site. The comment was mine. I am managing her Bubble as a tribute to her and sometimes I forget who I am logged in as.
Leslie Gustafson
Lynda Robinson replied
Stop making me laugh!!!! I think I am more confused than you!
Varry
Linda,this is beautiful
Lynda Robinson replied
Many thanks Varry – and thanks also for adding me to your watch list. I am extremely honoured!
Varry – I am such a nitwit sometimes!!!! I put this in the wrong box and you should have received it AGES ago. I am sorry for the delay in response. Only just discovered my error!
Simon Aberle
This is so creative! I love it!!
Lynda Robinson replied
Thanks for a nice comment. It was great fun. I also had to use a fair bit of imagination to use colour from a black and white reference.
Simon Aberle
I’ll bet! That’s why it is so creative. Your imagination is great :)
Margaret Harris
Love it!
Lazarita Betan...
I like your work
Lynda Robinson replied
Thank you so much Lazarita. I am honoured.
stephanie allison
Congrats!! Your image was voted in the TOP 10 in the ~ Orange & Blue ~ Complimentary Colors challenge in the Painted Ladies group!
♥
Chris Baker
Great painting!
I had a little chuckle to myself here when you mention the ‘pinning up of the blue shawl’.... haven’t I just had to do the same on several occassions myself? Works here beautifully – well done :)
Lynda Robinson replied
Thank you for leaving me a very lovely comment.
stephanie allison
Congratulations! Your image placed in the TOP 10 in the Cool Colors Painted Lady Challenge
♥♥♥♥
Lynda Robinson replied
Thank you very much Stephanie. What a wonderful surprise!
Marion Chapman
Lynda Robinson replied
Thank you so muchy Marion. I am really thrilled about this feature.
DevineDayDreams
EXCELLENCE!!!!!!
Lynda Robinson replied
Thank you very much Daisy.
JennyMac
I’m sure your husband’s great aunt would be very pleased with this… it’s divine! Congrats on your features… you certainly deserve them!! : ))
Lynda Robinson replied
Thank you so much Jenny.
joanna77
beautiful detail and beautiful painting
Lynda Robinson replied
Thank you joanna.
catherine walker
Fabulous painting..so well done!
Lynda Robinson replied
Thanks Catherine. I apologise for the delay. I only just found this comment on ‘The Blue Shawl’.
ccceca
This is beautiful!
Lynda Robinson replied
Thank you very much indeed. I appreciate your interest in my work.
Padrino
This has inspired me. I’m chasing you now!!!
Lynda Robinson replied
You make me smile Padrino! Thanks for a great comment, and it is wonderful to learn that my work has inspired you!!!!
Colin Trebble
Congratulations from your hosts at ART AT ITS BEST!
Lynda Robinson replied
OOOOH!!!! HOW EXCITING!!! Thank you so much Colin – Mmm-wah!