Friday, February 15, 2013

Baby Dress

Baby Dress
20" x 16"  Oil
$695.00 + $20. s/h

This dress used to belonged to my older sister and me.  I guess it still does belong to me.  My sister and I must have worn this dress.  Obviously we didn't wear it often as it's still in great shape.  I wanted to continue with my recent Sargent white and gray study.  Using a similar palette to the one a few posts ago I used the following painting by Sargent as my influence for this piece:


I have always loved this painting.  His whites are incredible;  they are beautiful and ochery.  So, I figured I must have a white dress somewhere.    


This is a wall in my daughter's room.  And there it was...a white dress.  My set up ended up making my whites more yellow than those in Sargent's painting.  But, influences start somewhere.   I would love to paint all these little dresses.  One of these still has the price tag:  $2.47.  Obviously we never wore that one!   My mom probably didn't want to hand wash and iron it!  These were wrapped in tissue paper in an old trunk of mine.  It's interesting how some things get kept through the years, the moves, the family changes.  I guess nostalgia caused my mom to keep them.  And, after my mom died when we were still kids and we moved to another house, my dad must have had a moment of emotion during packing and kept them.   Not sure where the booties and bibs came from (they look really old) and now there's no one to ask.  

14 comments:

Autumn Leaves said...

Loved reading of your family's story with these dresses, Pam. And you have painted this dress beautifully. You can see through the light cotton! Gorgeous! Your inspiration piece is wonderful and I can see its influence in this painting.

Debbi Smith Rourke said...

So soft and luminescent. Gloriously painted and what a sweet subject. Loved seeing the pics and reading about these dresses and you mom and dad. So special you have them on display. Can't wait to see more. Very special. xoxo

Celeste Bergin said...

Wow! I give this 5 out of 5 stars! Beauuuutiful! It is cool that you looked at Sargent and translated the whites to your painting. Brilliant!

Pam Holnback said...

Sherry, Thank you! I think influences, whether from a painting or object, help make the painting a story!

Thank you Debbi. I was trying for the soft! May have to wait awhile for the whole series, but it's in my mind!

Celeste Thank you so much!!

Nancy B. Hartley said...

Brilliant work, and fascinating post!I love way that you use the dresses to decorate the room! Wonderful post!

Fay Terry said...

What a beautiful painting! I so enjoyed reading your post and learning the story behind the painting. The last line is something I say to myself sometimes, too--no one to ask. Thanks for sharing your memories.

hmuxo said...

A beautiful post, Pam ..and a gorgeous painting...It upsets me also when there's no one left to ask!! So many questions...

Anne Winthrop Cordin said...

This dress is so sweet and full of luminosity, your study of Sargent has paid off. So many teachers for all of us, and you are one of them to me!

Pam Holnback said...

Thank you Nancy. Figured the dresses were better as decoration than just sitting in a box.

Fay. Thanks so much. Memories often make paintings!

Thank you Hilda. I guess soon we'll be the elders that are being asked!

Ann. Thank you! So appreciate your kind words!

Johanna Spinks said...

Yes, I love that Sargent painting too. I think white one of the hardest things to paint well. I also think Phillip de Laszlo a great person to study for white. Bravo

Dana Cooper said...

Love this one Pam, your colors are outstanding!!

Helen H Trachy said...

I just happen to see this beautiful little dress. Brings back sweet little moments. Lovely painting.

liza said...

nice post

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