Saturday, June 2, 2012

Cancan Girls: The Composition Process

A couple of days ago I posted my watercolor painting, Cancan Girls, as the source of inspiration for the three Rosenblatt Sisters in my novel, Apart from Love. Now let me go a few steps backwards and give you a glimpse into the composition process of that painting. 

It is based on several quick sketches of a model in cancan costume, which she (a woman of many talents) had sewn by herself. Unlike other models, trained to pose for a long time without moving a muscle, this one could not sit still, not even for a moment! Without being cute, or shapely in any way, she certainly had a presence in the room. This cancan girl kept humming, sometimes under her breath, sometimes with full-throated giggles, barely able to contain her bustling energy--which truly endeared her to me. So right away I knew that these sketches would lead me to something special.





I took them and tried various ways of combining them on paper. By that I mean, combining her various poses in space, so the farther figures would be smaller, and the closer ones--larger, so as to suggest a perspective. Also, I wanted to create a story of a relationship between the figures. Finally I came up with an arrangement that suggested an outsider, set against a tightly knit group. The figures exchanged looks between them, examining her with curiosity, suspicion, even enmity--even though all of them sprang from the same mold: an amazingly animated model... 

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6 comments:

  1. Dearest Uvi...on you go caring, doing, painting, writing..You must be a wizard! I just want to let you know, if case I haven't already....how very much I appreciate your wonderful energy, talent and generosity and that you share it so often. My Momma would say: "You are a very good girl!"
    I loved when that happened. My Mother was the kindest person who ever lived! Without her love and encouragemet...I likely would no longer inhabit this planet. Thank YOU!!!!

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    1. Thank you Dear Sussan, it feels so rewarding, being called "a very good girl"--haven't been called that for a while! And you're a lucky girl yourself, to have such a great mother!

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  2. Simply amazing. May be you should be named Amazing Uvi :-D
    You make it sound easy and methodical, but it the hands & eyes that sketch & paint with such elegance. Your narratives give a deep insight to your creative impulses and how you marshal them. Kudos, Uvi :-))

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    1. Thank you Shyam. Means a lot coming from a creative poet such as yourself.
      ;)

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  3. Yes, Uvi. I am beaming reading the perfect praise for your work, which cannot be separated from the person you are. This unassuming, gracious, gentle-yet-fiery heart of yours; coupled with your seemingly boundless talent, makes you a unique and powerful artist. I am honored to "know" and be inspired by you. Thank you, Uvi.

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    1. I can imagine your beaming smile, Britton. The inspiration is mutual!

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