I have just bought a handsome, seductive book: Emma Rutherford's Silhouette - The Art of the Shadow pub. Rizzoli - and thought I would have a go myself. Voila.
From top: Diana Vreeland; Grace Kelly; Edith Sitwell; Ottoline Morrell
I am wanting them for my niece's birthday, I wonder about 3- maybe Diana, Edith, Ottoline-I have given her books on or about them all.She would Love. pgt
I see the Ottoline Morrell as an oversize wall hanging. A mantel treatment. I also like the idea of these in ceramic slabs, either porcelain on backing board or dyed cast concrete.
rurritable, I might have to disagree with you here - taking the old fashioned position that silhouettes are best as miniatures. They'd be scary write large - but maybe that's never put you off!
Forgive me. I was brought up in the thrall of eighties gigantism. I have an attic full of large paintings you could use as sails for a pretty fair sized boat. My wife is still mystified at the three year struggle I undertook to copy Watteau's "Fetes Venetiennes" onto a 3'x5' canvas.It's probably hanging in a middlebrow whorehouse somewhere now. I'm betting Alabama.
rurritable, I can forgive you anything as long as you keep these delicious comments coming. Thanks for always being here! Did you ever see my Nevada whorehouse post, by the way? http://rosecestlavie.blogspot.com/search/label/Nevada
Rose, I just looked at the Nevada post. It's always seedier than you can imagine it. Poor sex workers. They deserve much better. I can't think of anything that would be more horrible to face every day, and I used to work for the postal service.
I so agree, rurritable. Sexworkers: unsung heroines in my book. But now, what is it about working for the postal service? My brilliant friend Philip who resembles you in the department of elegant, comically-timed rants, was a postman for many years. How come I asked? He admitted that he ended up in Kent in a situation dominated by the consumption of questionable substances and simply needed to get a job. It certainly honed his general, delicious anger.
Good question, Rose. I don't know what Philip's take on the postal service is, but after several years of running a hundred mile route, I noticed that a lot of my customers were simply batshit crazy. Shortly after the Oklahoma City bombing I was delivering what amounted to fan magazines for Timothy McVeigh to militia types. Initially, we had a very capable postmaster, and she was great with the public. When she retired they replaced her with a man who was a living, breathing example of how God looks after the stupid. I found myself wondering constantly how he made it into middle age without wandering in front of a car, or at least being shot by one of his immediate family. It was sometimes dangerous work, especially on the busier arteries during a heavy snow or ice storm. I didn't become a complete misanthrope, but I definitely was not a happy camper.
Rose, found your artwork via Little Augury and her mention at Ottoline Divine - which absolutely is divine, partly due to your beautiful silhouette artwork.
I'm afraid to admit, but I thought Edith Sitwell was Bob Dylan. The nose and hair tricked me, but at least they do both share the knack of word-smithing.
Rose, I found your artwork through Little Augury and her Ottoline Divine, which is truly divine - partly due to your charming silhouette of Ottoline.
I'm afraid to admit, I thought the Edith silhouette was Bob Dylan - due to the hair and the nose - but of course, they do have in common the knack for word-smithing.
How lovely are those? And such great subjects!
ReplyDeleteHurrah! I guessed them all before reading the identification at the end.
ReplyDeleteSo then you must be doing it right.
Lucinda - thank you! And Mr. Worthington, I knew you would get them right.
ReplyDeletefantastic Rose-yes thoroughly identifiable. love to get a set of them, available???
ReplyDeletepgt
la - thank you. I will see what I can do.
ReplyDeleteI am wanting them for my niece's birthday, I wonder about 3- maybe Diana, Edith, Ottoline-I have given her books on or about them all.She would Love. pgt
ReplyDeleteI see the Ottoline Morrell as an oversize wall hanging. A mantel treatment. I also like the idea of these in ceramic slabs, either porcelain on backing board or dyed cast concrete.
ReplyDeleterurritable, I might have to disagree with you here - taking the old fashioned position that silhouettes are best as miniatures. They'd be scary write large - but maybe that's never put you off!
ReplyDeleteForgive me. I was brought up in the thrall of eighties gigantism. I have an attic full of large paintings you could use as sails for a pretty fair sized boat.
ReplyDeleteMy wife is still mystified at the three year struggle I undertook to copy Watteau's "Fetes Venetiennes" onto a 3'x5' canvas.It's probably hanging in a middlebrow whorehouse somewhere now.
I'm betting Alabama.
rurritable, I can forgive you anything as long as you keep these delicious comments coming. Thanks for always being here! Did you ever see my Nevada whorehouse post, by the way? http://rosecestlavie.blogspot.com/search/label/Nevada
ReplyDeleteRose, I just looked at the Nevada post. It's always seedier than you can imagine it.
ReplyDeletePoor sex workers. They deserve much better. I can't think of anything that would be more horrible to face every day, and I used to work for the postal service.
Rose, I adore what you have done, and would love to try this. I think as artists we always want to try new mediums and method!
ReplyDeleteKarena
Art by Karena
I so agree, rurritable. Sexworkers: unsung heroines in my book. But now, what is it about working for the postal service? My brilliant friend Philip who resembles you in the department of elegant, comically-timed rants, was a postman for many years. How come I asked? He admitted that he ended up in Kent in a situation dominated by the consumption of questionable substances and simply needed to get a job. It certainly honed his general, delicious anger.
ReplyDeleteGood question, Rose. I don't know what Philip's take on the postal service is, but after several years of running a hundred mile route, I noticed that a lot of my customers were simply batshit crazy. Shortly after the Oklahoma City bombing I was delivering what amounted to fan magazines for Timothy McVeigh to militia types.
ReplyDeleteInitially, we had a very capable postmaster, and she was great with the public. When she retired they replaced her with a man who was a living, breathing example of how God looks after the stupid. I found myself wondering constantly how he made it into middle age without wandering in front of a car, or at least being shot by one of his immediate family.
It was sometimes dangerous work, especially on the busier arteries during a heavy snow or ice storm. I didn't become a complete misanthrope, but I definitely was not a happy camper.
Rose, found your artwork via Little Augury and her mention at Ottoline Divine - which absolutely is divine, partly due to your beautiful silhouette artwork.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid to admit, but I thought Edith Sitwell was Bob Dylan. The nose and hair tricked me, but at least they do both share the knack of word-smithing.
Rose, I found your artwork through Little Augury and her Ottoline Divine, which is truly divine - partly due to your charming silhouette of Ottoline.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid to admit, I thought the Edith silhouette was Bob Dylan - due to the hair and the nose - but of course, they do have in common the knack for word-smithing.