Monday, March 16, 2009

Illustration Friday: Legendary in many ways


I've always wanted to attempt a portrait of Frida Kahlo although I thought I'd do it more justice than this. But here's my first attempt to paint a woman who is known for her art, her eyebrows and the legend she leaves behind.

A colorful character in history, legendary indeed.
(She looks better enlarged for some reason.)

(acrylic paint and prismacolor pencils on patterned scrapbooking paper)

34 comments:

  1. Beautifully done Lolo, it sure seems to me you have captured her intense beauty from photos and drawings I have seen of her.
    I like what you did with paper, paints and pencils. You are quite the artist!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yeah, I love the myriad colours and details here:)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh wonderful Lolo!
    I love Frida! And this is a very good painting! I think you have captured her spirit in this piece!
    And the colors are wonderful!
    Amazing.....

    ReplyDelete
  4. You have been an inspiration to me! Please accept this "Marie Antoinette, a real person, a real award":

    http://mixedmediamartyr.blogspot.com/search?q=award

    Thanks Leanne.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Legendary indeed - great choice! Wonderful likeness, Laurel and I like the way you've painted it on the patterned paper.

    ReplyDelete
  6. oh yes i knew it was her immediately. fabadabadoo, intense and soulful. another wowser lo. wfs to you today.

    ReplyDelete
  7. ohmygod! this is awesome.

    wow am i impressed.

    i may have more to say when i'm not rushing to work.

    but wow again...
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  8. I don't know what she is "supposed" to look like but you have made a beautiful, strong character here.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love your choice of paper again! and the topic you choose to illustrate legendary is very clever. I think you did a great job. Looks just like I would expect!

    ReplyDelete
  10. J'adore Frida, c'est une grande dame qui a eu beaucoup de courage et qui s'est exprimé avec beaucoup de sensibilité...
    From France,
    Tatieva

    ReplyDelete
  11. Better? This is wonderful.
    I saw the small photo on my desk top and I had to come and see it. It is Truly wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wonderful, you have definitely captured her here.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Laurel she is devine. Just like you.

    Holy crap you did an amazing job. Wow.

    Love Renee xoxoxo

    ReplyDelete
  14. I admit to never having heard of her but you did a beautiful job and yes, those eyebrows.........

    ReplyDelete
  15. You created a lovely tribute to an amazing woman. This is beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  16. WOW! Laurel, Freida is beautiful. I love her asymetrical face and the shadows are amazing. You've captured her essence and I think she would be so pleased to see herself depicted this way. The portrait is lovely. I would imagine some one will want this hanging on their wall. I love this painting very much. Is this a keeper for you? Your particular and sensitive interpretation is superb. Thank you. Nancy B.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Goregous work Lolo... she is indeed legendary!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh my, it's fabulous! You've captured her beautifully! Bravo lady, Bravo!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Beautifully done.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Very beautiful...love how you let her dress blend into the background.
    Hope all is well with you.

    ReplyDelete
  21. i think your being a bit to hard on your self here. its a wonderful portrait. michael dailey

    ReplyDelete
  22. You my darling have lifted me up. Thank you Laurel.

    I just saw your pigeon's new home and I told Caroline that I wanted that.

    xoxoxo

    Love you and thank you.

    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  23. My dwarf burm female's name is Frida-she's a small, fiery little girl just like her namesake. Strangely, her brother Diego is very laid back, but I didn't know this until after I named them.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Also, since I seem to hit send rather than return, I love your portrait...I think the real Frida is smiling on it as well.

    ReplyDelete
  25. You are so bold with your art, I love it. It does look better enlarged, but is wonderful not enlarged also.

    How is everything, how is hubby?

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love Frida Kahlo's art. You have done her great justice! I am so impressed!

    ReplyDelete
  27. yes! very beautiful and legendary! I love her purple and black eyebrows :) Great idea too!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Very nice. Love the colors and you have captured her essence.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Masterful...especially powerful yet sensitive...I love it on that beautiful paper...

    ReplyDelete
  30. Wow! Gorgeous! Love the textured background, the colors and your depiction of Frida is dead on! Lovvvve it!!!

    ReplyDelete
  31. The portrait is wonderful!

    You captured the artist behind those eyes.

    WooWoo Laurel.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Awesome job. Some of my 4th graders were making posters about F. Kahlo this week. Too bad blogs are blocked at school, or I'd share yours. Thanks for your kind comments. AND I love your moleskine blog as well.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Lolo, what a stunning and loving tribute! Simply gorgeous, and I love how her body fades into the background with the flowers.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Hi Lolo! What a wonderful tribute! You did a fantastic job, love the colors and the textures.

    Ted did build the best studio, but he agrees it was a little overbudget and took him longer than he would have liked, but that is only because he pays so much attention to detail.

    ReplyDelete