9.01.2011

in situ

More than 30 years ago, I began this portrait of a beautiful friend of mine in her beautiful Upper West Side apartment. I realized after a time when life intervened—job, marriage—that I was never going to finish it, so I took the canvas off the stretchers, cut it down and put it on this crooked one. My friend didn't like the picture much at the time; it made her look old. Now we both are, and she likes it better. She is contemplating framing and hanging it near the very couch she posed on.

9 comments:

j said...

I love hanging pictures in the locations in which they are set, or in proximity to the things that are depicted. I once wrote a proposal (unsuccessful) to an alternative gallery here in SF to do a whole installation of pictures in the recreated locations in which they were painted.

Claudia said...

I wish I had photographed her sitting in the couch, too.

Anonymous said...

The sitter said:
Come back and shoot me on the couch.

Phill said...

You're friends with Disnay's Pocahontas?

Claudia said...

Have staplegun will travel.

Kate Knapp Artist Blog said...

wonderful portrait ....love the cutains alot...head is great...what did you cut off?

Claudia said...

It was rectangular the long way—so body, couch cushions, floor. I had started from the top down!

Kate Knapp Artist Blog said...

me thinks the lady doth not paint enough...

Claudia said...

Ah, but you think that about everyone!