Sadhna’s Portrait 46cm x 84cm Mixed Media Collage
It is finally done! The portrait is finished, it has traveled up to Hamilton and Island and back undamaged and best of all she liked it. Amazingly enough I am happy with it as well.
Sadhna with her portrait
It hasn’t photographed all that well, but you can get the idea. It turned into a collage with the paisley design raised up so it floats above the portrait. It is made in three layers. One is the background which is acrylic paint with pencil over the top, then the silver ink pattern. The middle layer is the portrait again acrylic paint, pencil and ink and the final layer is raised 4mm above and they are pencil and ink paisley cut out and stuck on.
sadhna-preliminary-sketch
I have been wanting to try some raised collage for awhile and am pleased to get the chance to use it on this picture and I love the effect. It brings a new feel to the work.
As you can guess my friend Sadhna is Indian and loves the teal blue. she is very beautiful and loves the pretty pastels, paisley and bling. I wanted to show her love of design and pride in her heritage in this portrait and to give her some of the glamour of the vintage posters. I feel this has achieved it.
Detail of the Paisley 1
I really enjoyed doing this, though you know I grumbled, (see earlier post) it was a different direction but a fun learning curve. I have another couple lined up by people interested in having their portrait done in this way. So I am open to commissions.
Detail of the Paisley
But most of all I am happy that I was able to give a great and generous friend something really special for her birthday.
Karen
Karen Bailey Studio 
Sadhna will treasure this, I’m sure, forever. I must say, looking at her photo, she looks lovely! No wonder you are great friends. As well as the finished work, I really like the preliminary sketch – so glad you put that in your post as well. It’s really elegant. Makes me think of Breakfast at Tiffanys.
Oh, Breakfast at Tiffanys was just the look I was after. The black gloves and the finger up by the eye did not work in the final drawing, no matter what I did it looked like the other finger was up and she was giving the ‘bird’. Her very sparkly wedding rings are also very much a part of her so they had to be featured. Karen
Oh – isn’t that funny! Just shows – your intention – re Breakfast at Tiffanys – was perfectly communicated to your audience. ie you nailed it.
I saw her showing it off on facebook, I think she loved it. It looks fantastic.
Thanks Leanne, yes she does seem to like it, such a relief.
You did really well, I am sure she will treasure it, and it will be so very special for her.
This is so fun!! I’m fascinated by how you did it too. I LOVE the last layer on top. the little spirals on either side of her face look so fun and playful. SHe must have been SO pleased. I like how you discuss your work and also I love how you think of doing things different ways. It’s so inspiring seeing how you push things past a simple drawing Nice work!!! Good luck on the commissions too.
Thank you for liking “Swan.” This portrait is wonderful to look at. I like the colors and the layers. I also enjoyed reading about your creative process and the story behind this portrait. Well done! 🙂
Thanks for dropping by, I am glad you enjoyed the post and the art work. Karen