Thursday, January 8, 2009

Finished Portraits...I Think...

Soulemama (Expecting), 2009
pastel, oil, charcoal, acrylic, watercolor, pencil, stitching and collage on Rives BFK, 29" x 41"


Soulemama (Expecting), detail


Soulemama (Expecting), detail


Worried Love: Chriss Sutherland, 2009
pastel, oil, charcoal, acrylic, watercolor, pencil, and collage on Rives BFK, 29" x 41"


Worried Love: Chriss Sutherland, detail


Methinks I'm finished with Amanda's and Chriss's portraits. I could keep on layering and burying and scraping and excavating the imagery in the background till the cows come home - I love doing that. But I have to find a stopping point and move onto the next portraits. I have several people waiting in line. What has been fun and different with these portraits, is that I've given myself more time to work on each one than the portraits in my thesis series (I whipped each one of those out at lightening speed with barely a blink and a breath before the next person was sitting in my studio...)
These new portraits feel alot like some of my self-portraits. This is an interesting step for me - I've always wanted permission to really delve into someone else's personal story, like I do in my self-portraits, but felt shy about asking to do that. I think now that this is starting to happen...
Chriss's portrait image is in the hands of his graphic designer, and will be used for the cover of his new CD! Can't wait to see it! His CD, Worried Love, will be released in March. I'll keep you posted!

13 comments:

Maria Rose said...

Beautiful!

Brad Gailey said...

This is beautiful work. I like the background work. I feel that the background and the space about the figure is so important. I am so disappointed when I see a lovely portrait plopped onto a plain ground. You were right on the money with Gaston Lachaise (I used your spelling.) I am starting another series of figurative work (see tomorrow's post) that I am trying to push the relief in my paintings by exaggerating the contours by means of my brushstrokes.

Brad

martha miller said...

thanks, maria and brad! i appreciate the feedback!

Don Gray said...

Absolutely wonderful, Martha. It is so difficult to orchestrate such complex and various imagery. You do it masterfully.

martha miller said...

oh, thankyou, don. it helps to hear this!! i love your new series of watercolors! talk about masterful!!!

Anonymous said...

so lovely. you and your work... inspiring. we have recently opened a small shop consigning for local artisans(located in damariscotta) and have been so totally inspired at the beauty and bursting creativity that abounds in our small maine communities.

Anonymous said...

Your talent is nothing short of breathtaking. The SouleMama tribute is absolutely amazing.

Christy Peake said...

Just stunning, the colors are amazing.

Lucy Jane said...

My jaw is open... your detail and style are amazing... I am going back to look again and look for something that I might have missed the first time...

Amanda said...

Your portraits are absolutely incredible! What a blessing to your subjects!

knittingsandwich said...

these are stunning! they capture such a wonderful mood.

martha miller said...

thankyou ALL for your kind comments and feedback!

xxoo

The Unusual Farmchick said...

Beautiful and breath taking. One can not help but let their mind wonder around the "story" seen in the painting. At least that is the way I see them.
I look forward to seeing more of your work! ( I came by via Soulemama).
~Tammie