Art Challenge 11Finalist
Elaine Kurie New Jersey, USA, Resting, oil, 24 x 36" (61 x 91 cm)
My Inspiration
Sometimes spontaneity works best. After
several sitting and standing poses my model
took a break and rested awhile. As soon as
I saw the natural and unplanned pose she
relaxed into, I knew it was one I wanted to
paint. There was also a tender, peaceful and
psychologically vulnerable aspect to it as
it contained qualities that were authentic,
unselfconscious and free from pretense, and
it seemed to offer a glimpse into her world.
The light from my studio window was still
bright enough to clearly reveal forms, but it
was growing dim, lending an air of mystery
to the scene.
My Design Strategy
Figure painting has become my favorite
subject because it offers endless possibilities
of expression. Plus, as a student of anatomy,
I gained a deep sense of appreciation for the
beauty and structure of the human form.
As I paint, I keep in mind the interrelation
of various parts and their function, and
I constantly look for flexion, extension,
tension and relaxation in the muscles, as
well as in the overall composition.
The contrasts of tension and relaxation
I seek in a composition were present here
in several areas. The compression of her
face resting on her hand contrasted with
her extended foot, and the crumpled cloth
under her knee contrasted with the relaxed
folds of fabric falling toward the floor.
This design also corresponded to a degree
with the principles of the Golden Rectangle:
the model’s arm and shoulder falls near
the vertical line that divides the Golden
Rectangle into its two parts.My Working Process
After making careful drawings from my
photo reference, I continue to refine the
drawing with raw umber paint thinned with
OMS. When I’m satisfied with the drawing
I let this layer dry. Next, I block-in the dark
and middle values and finally the lighter
values with slightly thicker paint on an area
I think I can finish in a day. At the end
of the painting session I blend the values
together with a soft brush, being careful
not to over blend, which can cause a loss of
form. I save the highlights for last and
I paint them in several thin layers to prevent
build-up.Contact Details
» Email: [email protected]
» Website: http://www.elainekuriestudio.com Time and effort allow us to finally be ourselves. — Harley Brown