Try a Little Tenderness

For this portrait, I wanted to capture the vulnerability of a woman in love, the sweetness and femininity. Doesn't my subject look as if she were about to speak? 

Her hand, moving towards her lips...not sure what to say?

 She seems thoughtful and perhaps a bit sad. 

What she needs is assurance and some tender loving care. 

With props to Otis Redding:

Oh, she may be weary
Young girls they do get weary
Wearing that same old shaggy dress, 

But when she gets weary,
Try a little tenderness
You know she's waiting
Just anticipating
For things that she'll never, never, never, never possess,
But while she's there waiting, without them,
Try a little tenderness
It's not just sentimental, no,
She has her grief and care,
But the soft words, they are spoken so gentle,
It makes it easier, easier to bear
You won't regret it,
Some girls they don't forget it
Love is their only happiness,
But it's all so easy
All you gotta do is try, try a little tenderness
All you gotta do is, man, hold her where you want her
Squeeze her, don't tease her, never leave her
Get to her, try, try,
Just try a little tenderness
You got to know how to love her, man, you'll be surprised, man,
You've got to squeeze her, don't tease her, never leave her
You've got to hold her and rub her softly,
Try a little tenderness and watch her groove,
You've gotta to know what to do, man,
Take this advice...

 
Try a Little Tenderness

 

I used white paper with lavender and purple designs for the majority of the face, irridescent tissues for highlight, and my usual - junk mail paper source - for the rest.  

I hate to pick out frames. I always pick out the wrong ones, so I found a creative framer who can come up with interesting combinations of color and texture.

I trust my friend Mary

who put this unusual composition in a silver wood frame, and then in a seafoam textured frame.

It's amazing.

Here's my "gallery on the go" at an art festival in Virginia last year.

Art Festivals...Why I do a few a year

Just like a comedian who works small nightclubs to try out new material, I participate in a few Art Festivals here and there.
Here's why:
It is a great way to meet people, show my work, get feedback and input.
I get a good read on what is in favor with a broad group of people.
Sometimes I even sell a few pieces to collectors I might otherwise not have had the chance to get to know.
I work solo in my studio, so I need a little face time with the public on occasion.
My husband likes to travel.

Which ones?
Some, because they are close, some because they are prestigious.
Some because they're located near family, some just because.

What I don't do:
Undercut the galleries that represent my work.

See you this weekend at one of the highest rated art shows in country: Scottsdale Art Festival in Arizona.
Next month in Palm Springs and San Diego.
You can always check the events page on my site: http://schimmelart.com/events.htm to see if I'll be near you.

After the show

Nothing is more satisfying to me, as an artist, than meeting the people I create my artwork for. When the adorable couple from Canada spotted the one piece that was meant for them =[Film Noir] and instantly fell in love with it - I knew it was meant to be.
Recently, I've been thinking about a new direction and experimented with a piece I created right before the show - and a gentleman saw it and had to have it. Thanks for supporting the direction, I'm thinking it's the way to go!
I was thrilled to bits to be part of the Scottsdale Art Festival - for many reasons - meeting my fans [!] and seeing my collectors again, and giving new homes to my art - it all adds up to a wonderful experience.