Tuesday, February 16, 2010

switching gears...new painting series

I know, I know I am not done with the domestic series yet, but I couldn't resist changing gears for a few nights to start on this mothering one. (I made the rule so I can break it!)So here is the first one in my mothering series as seen on the sparkly new easel.

A story behind the shot, this is the crib at my parents house that they've had since my childhood, and a quilt my grandmother crocheted. It is smooth color blocks of yellow, white, and aqua-- so very cool. The baby is actually my two year old squeezed into a pair of 6-12 month jammies (quite comical)

As I approach this series though I am struggling with how to do this series without it feeling overly sentimental? I am hoping the more stylized nature of the technique will help. I want them to be interesting and make people think about domestic connectionss but I don't want them to feel like posters of puppy dogs (you know the "ahhh thats so cute factor") which things that involve babies often engender?

Looking at the photograph is making me think I need to change the skirt a little- it's making my backside look a little wide-like a bad pair of jeans. As the unfortunate model for all the shots (as anyone who goes to knows me can tell you they see these outfits and shoes regularly), I don't want to be remembered in unflattering ways...

9 comments:

Unknown said...

I heart those shoes!
And shouldn't a mother of a fuzzy little baby be entitled to a bit more padding? HARDLY unflattering--I think you should leave it.
xo

jendoop said...

love your ideas, especially that you aren't going for the cute factor to manipulate the viewer's emotions.

With your backside - could it be that it looks big because the bottom of the shirt is bunched up around the waist?

smart mama said...

oh thanks- actually part of it may be the easel is tilted so there is distortion in the pic (maybe why it's didn't bug me as much when i was looking at it IRL)- and part of it it's a sort of 2/3rds view so if you don't get the patches of shading just right the dpeth gets off (which is probably also a factor.

Mommy Knows Best said...

Ok-this one took my breath away! Your domestic series (and the mothering one) embody my life and my passion for being a stay-at-home mommy. I am so excited to see what you do next!

Shellie said...

wow... I just found your blog and loving your paintings. I can't believe you were able to get a 2 year old in 6-12 month jammies :)

Emiline said...

hellO! I am so glad I found your blog! I love the painting!

my blog is here: www.housewifeclass.blogspot.com

Michelle Glauser said...

The skirt looks fine. I wish I could whip up an awesome painting like that. I like that you're exploring these themes.

Lei said...

No way do I think of puppy dogs when I look at this! And although I know the we-are-our-worst-critics-syndrome well, I do not think this is an unflattering angle of you. :)

caralee said...

Nice job Les. I am loving these domestic series. Except this this the first painting where I just want her to kick her shoes off and get comfortable. :)