My (Hopefully) International RAOK - Finished!

Hi There

Well after a lot of posting about her, here she is - the finished pastel painting of a lady from Mozambique:

The only issue I'm having now is that I worry she isn't up to standard.  Not only that, I don't think she looks like my model.  See:

I *so* want to say a filthy word right now.  But I shall try my best to control myself. (*$!#&@#)

The idea of creating a painting of someone and then anonymously sending it to them is indeed a wonderful and noble Random Act of Kindness gesture.  However, I'm a tad worried that this isn't good enough and may well have the opposite effect and inadvertently impede world peace if I was to send this painting to Mozambique.  I'm thinking that maybe this is a good first attempt and to try again?

Sooooo.....In order to determine what I should do with this painting, I am going to conduct a wee poll.

You'll be able to vote if you look over to the side of the screen.  Voting closes Saturday, so be sure to have your say.  It's a simple case of majority winning!

Thanks for stopping by.  Talk to you soon!

Kate
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POST EDIT:  The poll results were 80% in favour of sending the lady to Mozambique.  This shall happen over the next week or two - I'll provide you with an update if there ever is one.  Thanks so much for participating with my little poll!

My (Hopefully) International RAOK - Part 3

Hello There Beautiful People of the World!

Today's foray into 'Kate's Crazy Art World' (I so should copyright that phrase!) brings Part 3 of my quest to do something nice for someone I don't know. (For anyone who is not aware of the background story, click  here to read about my incredibly noble intentions.) I'm sad to say that whilst I still think this is a great idea, I'm starting to lose confidence that it is actually going to work.  Boo! Don't you just hate it when that happens?

The big thing is - I think the actual painting looks kinda OK so far.  The problem is more that I'm concerned my painting doesn't actually look like the lady I'm trying to render.  Here, have a look so you can see what I mean. Just here is my lady, to the stage where I've nearly finished her face (still a bit of hair and earring/ear rendering to go):

And here is the reference photo:

Botheration and <Sigh>!   Looking on the bright side, at least her eyes are looking a little more balanced than my earlier posts about this painting.  Surely that outweighs any "likeness" issues, right? ;-)

There's quite a way to go yet before I can call her finished, but I have to be honest with you all and say that much to my dismay, I'm not sure this one is gonna make it to the final grand post-office send off...  Still, I'm won't give up just yet, I'll see what a bit more pastel and hopefully a lot more inspiration can achieve.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Stay tuned for an update over the next few days where I hope to unveil the finished picture.  I think I may put it out to vote whether she flies across the ocean or flies across the room into the garbage bin.  Whatcha think?

Kate
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My (Hopefully) International RAOK - Part 2

Hi There

Well after starting my well intentioned attempt at a Random Act of Kindness (RAOK) artwork for a lady who lives on the other side of the world (you can read the background story here), I've managed to find a little time this afternoon to progress my painting of her a little more. Unfortunately, after today's effort, I'm now at the point where I'm starting to think that whilst the thought is incredibly noble and just, the reality....?

Don't you just hate it when that happens?!

Still, in the interests of accountability and being honest with you all as to how she is progressing, take a look at where I'm up to now...

What do you think?  At this point, I like her nose and lips but I'm feeling a little concerned about the placement of the eyes - I think I'll need to have another look at this tomorrow morning (or the next time I get to find time to create).  I hope that it is only a minor fix, or "eye" have a feeling eye'll be feeling pretty cantankerous.  (What I've discovered with pastels, is that unfortunately, that can happen really quickly if you aren't careful.  One moment you've got beautiful luminosity, the next - MUD.  For a newbie like me, it is a very fine line to tread.)  

Cross your fingers for me this doesn't end up in the bottom of the bin!

I suppose I'd better go now.  I've got to go and get ready for a dress up 1970's disco I'm going to tonight.   "Ah--hah-hah-hah-hah Stayin' Alive... Stayin' Alive....!"  :-)

See you around soon!

Groovily yours,

Kate
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My (Hopefully) International RAOK

Hello there!

Today's post is my attempt to start creating an artwork which I'm hoping will eventually be able to used by me to make someone else happy through a Random Act of Kindness (RAOK).

My fellow artist-wannabe classmate Ms R (you know who you are!) recently went on an overseas holiday to Africa, which included travels to Mozambique.  Whilst she was there she took the most beautiful photographs of people who lived in the village where she was staying.  When I saw the photos upon her return to Brisneyland, I just knew I had to try and paint them using my not so trusty pastels.

Ms R and I got talking and I mentioned that painting of this nature is, for me, more about creating an inner feeling of personal satisfaction, not about making money.

I then suddenly had an idea....  I pledged to Ms R that IF I can manage to create a painting that by some miracle, actually manages to do the beautiful people who feature in the original photographs justice, then I would take great pleasure in sending the painting(s) across the oceans as an artistic Random Act of Kindness gift to the individual(s) whose beautiful face inspired my painting.  She loved the idea and told me that the village is so small, that provided I get a good likeness then if she were to send it, the recipient was sure to receive it.

My only proviso is that if the paintings are a disaster, that I would not send them...

So... this is my first attempt at a pastel painting of a beautiful woman from a little village in Mozambique.  Stay tuned as I work on her over the next little while.  Cross your fingers for me that I can do her justice!

See you soon,

Kate
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