Who has archival famous artwork emulations??!
Well, I kinda do, they finished kinda well and I think some folks might remember them, soooo...
Hubby came in last week with a jacket that the cleaners weren't able to get out a large stain on the chest area. I sighed and... I was about to throw it away when I thought I might use it one day, so I hung it in the laundry room. It was a short-lived stay!
This challenge happened. I painted the jacket in an impressionistic way, cut out some of the back "tails" and made a "vest". Then I stapled the vest to one of Hubby's old undershirts and put that on.
That was the easy part. *sigh*
Then, I put my hair up as best that I could (It's too short for a real ponytail despite the Pandemic). And painted my face. Not very well since I had to take off my glasses and then I couldn't see to paint.
*sigh*
I'd painted the background the day before so I sat down in front of that. A billion times.
You'll see that in the real painting, his face doesn't line up with itself. You can't have your eyes like that and your face turned like that. It just doesn't work that way in real life, but I get it that that's part of why Van Gogh's portrait is so charming. I do like it.
Anyway, up and down and up and down and up... and yup! You guessed it... down.
Repeat.
I had to decide which way was the best way to recreate something that a face can't do. What do I give up?
Add in that I was alone, so had to shoot myself, put on my glasses to see what I'd gotten each time (which messed up my hair each time) and then shoot again fixing whatever I thought needed fixing. No, I'm looking too high up. No, I'm looking too far left. No, I'm looking just right, but my head isn't positioned correctly...
I had to remember so much for an old lady! Ha!
I had to take off my glasses, frown with my eye brows, let my eyes still be able to be seen, turn my head enough, but not too much, make sure my underthings were straight. (The vest is really just flat and not much bigger than the jacket opening.) Remember to slump my shoulders as much as the modern jacket would allow, lower my chin, drop my jaw... all of these things do not come naturally to me.
Anyway, I hope enough people know this self portrait of Van Gogh's to recognize my re-creation attempt.
I know it's too colorful, but, I tried it his way and it just looks flat.
So, here it is.
I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with for this. I love looking at the Pandemic famous painting re-creations online.
I do hope that folks see that the jacket is really painted in real life... not painted in Photoshop. I'm thinking they'll vote me down for editing it and... I didn't.
Oh well...
I double dog dare Bear to call me out on this one. He usually nails mine no matter how much I conceal myself. :D
Actually, I think I look almost exactly like my brother in this image. Seems fair.
Question for you, though... Have you ever tried to get dried paint out of your hair? The face is easy. The hair is tough.
And then... there's all of the paint clumps in the bottom of your shower. If you don't get them down the drain while they're wet, they'll stick there and be quite a nuisance to get off.
so well done Lydia! You concealed yourself well –Â i didn't recognize you when I saw it first. And the jacket is painted exceptionally well. Perhaps you should take up abstract painting? Congrats!
This is just amazing, what a huge and careful undertaking! I loved reading your description. It made me appreciate the effort even more (I was one of your 10s). I'm just coming back after about 13 years away, coming back slowly, no entries yet, and this was a huge inspiration. Thanks!
Wow! You did an amazing job, Lydia! I never would have guessed it was you either! I’m glad you were awarded an honorable mention. In this challenge, that is quite an honor. There are truly some masterpieces, yours being one of them!
LOL about your comments - and WOW about your result.
This is just amazing! So great, no way I would have recognized you
And a HM with an avg above 7 is something special nowadays I'd say
And I thought I went to a lot of trouble for this one. You win, Lydia. And you're right . . . I took the painterly effect for . . . for, well, for a painterly effect and that cost you a point. Soooooo sorry now. but I'd decided somewhere along the line to give highest marks to those who were able to achieve the effect without the aid of . . . shall we say extraneous software.
Congratulations on the HM, anyway, and I just wish it had finished higher.
ETA: I did give this a 9 . . . just not the 11 it deserved.
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