26 June, 2010

Ballerina Sketch - Degas Copy

Degas Copy - Ballerina 1
10.5" x 8"
Pastel & Charcoal
Casey Klahn



This post originally at Pastelsblog, March 7, 2010.

If I were to quit landscapes and just spend the rest of my days copying Degas, I would still be a happy man. Photos with a point and shoot - better quality ones to follow.

6 comments:

Janelle Goodwin said...

Wow, what a beautiful rendition of Degas's ballerina. I love the mixture of colors that pop out and bring the viewer in!

Casey Klahn said...

Thank you for kind words, Janelle! I struggled with the background mightily, but by the next painting I felt like something good was happening.

The theatrical lighting is an interesting element of his subjects, huh?

Amber Cauley said...

This is beautiful! I love the colors too. What kind of tape do you use? I've never seen black tape. I use pastels too and I usually just settle for the bright blue painters tape.

Casey Klahn said...

Hey, Amber - thanks!

I use what I think is fabric photog tape. The roll in my studio says PRO Tape & Specialties, and is 3/4 inch.

Try this.

Celeste Bergin said...

whoaaaa do I love this! You did a sublime job of color "restraint"--seriously, it is magnificent! You have some Degas inside you--that is for certain!

Casey Klahn said...

I'll take the compliment, Celeste! I respect your approach to the figure - I am looking for my own voice by these studies of Degas' works.

Har. Restraint I ain't got. But, look closely at ED and see some of the stuff he did. We are so used to looking at it, we miss the history he made with colorism.

Abstract Expressionism, Art Criticism, Artists, Colorist Art, Drawing, History, Impressionism, Modern Art, Painting, Pastel, Post Impressionism