The Difference Between Modeling Mary and the Mary Within

Thanks to all of you who visited here and commented on my progress with "The 'Mary' in Kimberly" while I was completing miniature paintings for several competitive shows. I do love painting large just as much as I love my work in miniature! Having given it my all during two key months when many of the miniature show deadlines overlap, it was important to rest and revitalize for a bit, but I've been looking forward to getting rolling again with my portrait series. I have two pastel portraits awaiting completion, and a new piece I'd like to begin, but first, here is an interesting comparison that I hope might stimulate some spiritual discussion:

Detail of my Madonna and Child drawing using Karen as a model

My drawing for a Madonna and Child painting using Karen as a model.

"The 'Mary' in Karen" miniature portrait in egg tempera

The first "Mary" portrait in my series---the one that I began this blog with---was "The 'Mary' in Karen" (above, the only miniature in this series). But as some of you know by now, I also love to paint Mary herself, and it was in that spirit that I used Karen as the model for Mary in the above Madonna and Child drawing, one that I did a while ago, but still plan to use as the basis for a painting.

So I've drawn Karen as Mary, and have also attempted to paint the 'Mary' within Karen, but in my mind, as well as in my creative intent, these are not the same thing. And I wonder, does it come across as I intend? Apart from the fact that in the Madonna and Child drawing I've taken some liberties with Karen's likeness and hair, and given it a Renaissance feeling, do you see and feel the difference between one effort and the other?

Pencil drawing for the next pastel of Terry

(In the process of transferring this onto the pastel board.)

"The 'Mary' in Terry"

(click on the image for a larger view)

Recently I reconnected with a friend from high school days, Terry Sebastian.  Terry and I used to sit across from each other in art class, and we found each other again on Facebook.  Terry lives in Utah, but while spending time with family in PA, she made a trip to New York for two days to visit me before she went back home.  We had a great time, and I was delighted too that she agreed to do a wonderful photo session for "The 'Mary' in Terry."  Here is the first drawing I've done from our work together.  I hope I did justice to the photos I worked from for this try.

Thank you so much, Terry.  I'm really excited and grateful too over how we were able to reconnect with each other in this special way about art again, especially after so many years!

Terry enjoys abstract expressionist painting in encaustic.

Second try - More on the Mary in Kimberly

(click on image for a larger view)

This image was hard to capture, so here is another try with my camera, in case it's helpful.

Discovered today when I logged onto this blog that all my posts had disappeared!  Quelle nightmare!  Luckily, I figured out how to bring them back, but sorry if you logged on to find nothing at all here earlier today.  

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!

More on the Mary in Kimberly