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Kevinrichardfineart — Waiting
#alone #blue #cafe #coffee #lunch #people #scarf #window #woman #oldsoulart #kevinrichard
Published: 2015-04-03 16:37:52 +0000 UTC; Views: 440; Favourites: 17; Downloads: 4
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Description
8x10 oil on canvas panel
Like most artists, I am often engaged in the act of observation. I have always been fascinated with people and their story. This was the case one day when a well dressed woman came into a cafe I often attend; she ate alone and her attention alternated between her cell phone and the outside world. I had wondered if her being alone was a testament of strength or vulnerability, or something in between. In any event, there was a story, but one with a good deal of mystery. That night I made some sketches and went to the canvas. The resulting image seemed to offer a moment of reflection and a touch of sadness. I am not sure to this day if this was an accurate depiction of her experience or some perception on my part. That is the thing that always fascinates me, art has a way of blending the objective world with our subjective experience. Feel free to share your thoughts or any other comments.
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Comments: 5
This is quite an emotional portrait from you, Kevin. I really like how you captured this woman, it really makes me wonder, "Is she waiting for someone? Did she have a hard day? Did she get stood up?" When I look at this, I feel a connection to it because I too have sat alone waiting. I would love to see you do more of these 'cafe' portraits, they tell a great story with no words! 
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Jen, thanks for the compliment on my work. I feel beyond the actual story of this woman and the rendering of what I saw that day lies a more universal story. I think we all have been there at one time or another, either for a moment or for longer durations in time. (I have another cafe painting just around the corner). Thanks again.
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The technical aspect strikes me. Are you saying that the woman did not notice you making a sketch of her and the surrounding area? How much of the painting is actually taken from the sketch versus you filling in the visual gaps with your imagination or other reference photos?
I like when artists write more than a description of the medium they used, it envelopes the work with more meaning I feel.
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Thanks for the comment and I am happy to respond to the questions. I made the sketches later that night, so my time in the cafe was strictly observation. I am there quite often so the setting is very familiar. I can recall her cloths, scarf and some other attributes quite vividly; however, the likeness of her face is more elusive. Although I can recall some outer qualities, I was aiming more to capture some inner attributes. On this level, it was much harder to paint, and it is here that I wonder how much was accurate depiction and how much was a projection on my part.
Thanks for viewing and the dialogue.
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Thanks for your reply.
A near photographic memory is a wonderful tool.
Of course you have a point in what you say. On the other hand it seems to me that it does not matter that the subject is portrayed in the way she really was at that moment including her inner feelings (unless it is a commission with special requests). I believe that the creation of art can be, as you say, a unique mesh of capturing reality objectively and adding a personal interpretation to that reality (in many cases intensifying, exaggerating a feeling portrayed to send the message across). I find that the artist's point of view is no less valid than that of the subject - the difference is in who communicates at that point, in this painting you took her message, rephrased it and added your own words that are meaningful to you to communicate again.
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