A Sneak Peek at Work in Progress & a Bonus Glimpse into my Funny Little Mind
I am really feeling this piece that I’m working on at the moment. I’m intrigued that the protagonist isn’t human (this wasn’t pre-meditated, it just happened). I don’t fully understand the feeling I’m about to convey so this might not be entirely coherent. Sometimes I feel a bit distanced from figurative artwork because I don’t know who it is in the painting. Sort of like if you were to frame a photograph of a stranger and put it on a shelf. I think this might be why I’m drawn to non-realistic representations of people — they’re much less challenging on this level.
I’m excited at the thought of illustrating humanoids more from now on. It’s not so much that I’m renouncing human figures all together; more that I’m making an addition to my arsenal, which had never occurred to me before, but now that I know is an option I wonder how I ever did without it.
I wonder if I’m the only one who experiences this. Do you ever look at a figurative piece, or draw a person, and think “I like it, that looks pretty groovy, but who is that?”
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Nellie Windmill is the project of Katherine Herriman... (that’s me). Hi! I'm a painter. I create more opportunities for daydreamer types to keep their heads in the clouds. But really, I just want to add to the beauty in the world. Since 2009, my nomadic studio dwells in a motorhome called "Nettle", somewhere in Europe.
katherine it’s great that you mention this about unfamiliar people in paintings. i always thought it was anal of me to think that way. i often wondered how someone could buy one of my paintings with a person in it they don’t know. it’s like keeping the picture of commercial people that comes with the frame when you buy it. but i suppose it doesn’t matter who the person is as long as the right thing is communicated.
Oh thank goddess it’s not just me. I’m still not convinced it’s not anal to think that way – maybe you’re just as anal as I am ;)