Attitude in Paint

11x14

acrylic on hardboard

This painting was inspired by a visit my daughter and I took to the art museum, our last one before everything changed.

The museum has played a significant role in my life. As a young artist, I attended programs and workshops there. Later, as a teacher, I brought my students to experience the same. I even helped many of them build portfolios to apply for the museum’s scholarship opportunities. And, of course, I brought my own kids, hoping to pass on a love for art and creativity.

On this particular visit, I decided to take a grown-up step and support the museum the way it had supported me. I purchased a yearly membership. Ironically, we never got to use the rest of the membership because... COVID.

Still, we had a wonderful day. After exploring the exhibits, we capped it off with lunch at an art-themed restaurant. Although my daughter isn’t an artist herself, she has a genuine appreciation for art, which means a lot to me.

At the end of our visit, she asked what my favorite pieces were. I pointed out two, and she stepped in close to examine The Yellow Scale by artist František Kupka. That moment sparked the inspiration for my own work.

What draws me to Kupka’s painting is the way he uses yellow; it’s masterful. And I can’t resist the model’s expression, completely dismissive. He’s clearly holding court and can’t be bothered. In other words, “You are dismissed!” I love it.

Comments

Little Miss Cutiful

11x14 in acrylic on hardboard I love pattern! I was immediately drawn in by the polka dots on the little girl’s dress. Before I retired from teaching, I would often remind my students that, just because something looks simple didn’t mean it will be easy. I myself relearned this lesson with this painting. Polka dots are simple enough but making them interesting is the hard part. When painting the polka dots, I had to make the ones on her dress more dynamic than those in the background to avoid a flat painting. It was a painstaking process, but in the end, the effort was well worth it. This piece also taught me patience. I originally started with a much larger version of this painting on stretched canvas, which I was eager to dive into. However, after five days of repainting the face for what felt like the hundredth time, I started questioning my own sanity. I’m not one to give up, but this one nearly broke me. Realizing I needed a new approach, I took a step back. I hadn’t painted in a ...

"Ladies in Gray"

12 x 16 acrylic on hardboard My aunt, seen here on the right, is what I call a wonder woman. She raised seven children while working full time, and upon retiring opened and runs her own bakery. She created my wedding cake, which was gorgeous. Every year my aunt, organizes a musical for her church. This musical brings people in from all around this big state of Texas. This year the women all wore gray. It had been so long since I had been a part of their annual musical. I was in high school the last time I participated. I asked my parents whom are loyal participants, how many people belong to my aunt's church now. My parents thought for a few minutes before offering..."Not many." My mother began counting each couple and the pastor and his wife finishing at the number eight. "Are you sure I asked?" I was reminded that they live in a rural community. SOLD

Little Miss in Blue

11x14 in acrylic on hardboard What little girl doesn’t love trying on adorable dresses? This was the inspiration for my first painting in my Little Miss series. Lately, I’ve been experimenting with brighter colors, inspired by the bold palettes of artists I admire. Yellow, in particular, is a tricky color—it’s incredibly light, applies thinly, and can be challenging to create shades effectively. Navy blue, on the other hand, has always intrigued me, yet I often struggle to incorporate it because I’m always unsure of what color compliment it. I’ve finally found the answer, it’s golden yellow and white! SOLD

An Artist's Journal:Paintings by Felicia Marshall

Search This Blog