14 October 2009

child of a working man


8x6 oil on canvas panel

Crystal Lee Sutton, the inspiration for the film and the character Norma Rae, passed away last month. Crystal Lee's obituary describes how cancer medication was delayed by her health insurance company. Don't get me started.


Bless the child of a workin' man.
She knows too soon who she is.
And bless the hands of a workin' man.
He knows his soul is his.
-- "It goes like it goes," written by Norman Gimbel

29 comments:

Ann Reyes said...

Very nice, Dar! Very nice.

Barbara Pask said...

Wonderful Dar. This is the kind of painting I would study at a gallery trying to understand it's meaning. How is the show going? Is it over? Did you sell anything? Lots of questions, lol

Sheila Vaughan said...

A wonderful idea and a really beautiful painting Dar. Those colours are superb.

Dar Presto said...

Thanks so much, Ann.

Hey Barb, thanks. The show is over, and I sold 3 paintings! It was a wonderful experience. I meant to blog about it, but I had this latest painting in my head, and needed to get it out :)

Sheila, thank you. I was intimidated for a moment about flesh tones and cardboard, but intuition guided my color-mixing.

Mary Sheehan Winn said...

I would also study this painting for meaning as it is an interesting image. The hand is perfectly done, too.

http://www.onpainting.wordpress.com said...

Very beautiful painting Dar

Dar Presto said...

Mary, thank you. I'm glad I didn't make a literal image of Sally Field holding a 'union' sign. I like the way this is left open to interpretation.

Thank you very much, Bill. I've been enjoying your blog posts, even tho I haven't stopped by to comment much.

Kim Blair said...

This painting is lovely. You captured the delicate nuances of the flesh tones... and the fingers are beautiful.

Kim

Susan Carlin said...

Wow, Dar! This painting is really REALLY wonderful. I have to ask- did you use your own hand, viewed in a mirror? Gorgeous.

Anonymous said...

All quite beautiful Dar- the tribute to the memory of a true whistle blower, the poem, and your painting.
Perfect.

Dar Presto said...

Hi Kim, thank you very much.

Thanks Susan. I took some photos, awkwardly, of my hand and a flattened, inside-out cereal box. I used the photo for position and value, but referred to the real thing for color. It was a good exercise, really, because I'm not great at judging value - I tend to rely on color matching.

Bonnie, I'm very happy you appreciate the whole package. I enjoy working that way when it arises.

I joke with myself that the sign actually carries a message about fiber or recycling, or perhaps "Dewey defeats Truman."

Diane Hoeptner said...

Beautiful subtle & soft values, very nice.

Dar Presto said...

Thank you so much, Diane.

Connie Chadwell said...

Hi Dar - Hands are tough, but you just did a beautiful job! Really nice!

Marian Fortunati said...

Dar,
I need to put you back on my sidebar. I had taken you off because you hadn't posted for so long.
ANYHOW... I went to your profile and saw that wonderful new avatar and was going to comment on it when I got to your blog but here it is... OH MY!!! THIS is absolutely stunning.... Is it your hand...???
Gosh... I like everything about it!!

Also... very thought provoking post... THANKS!

Dar Presto said...

Thanks, Connie. Your figures always inspire me. Someday I'll work my way up to an arm or a shoulder ;)

Marian, thank you for the praise and the nudge. I guess I should pick up those brushes! Yes, that's my little paw.

Robin Weiss said...

Very beautiful and sensitive painting....Nice work!

Dar Presto said...

Hi Robin, thank you so much!

Don Coker said...

Dar, this painting really touched my heart. That movie was filmed not far from where I live and was about folk I grew up around. I was raised the son of cotton mill workers in a small mill town just like that one. God rest Ms. Sutton. Oh, and thank you for your kind comment at my blog.

Don Coker said...

BTW, congrats on your recent show!

Dar Presto said...

Don, thank you. I'm so pleased you have a connection to this piece.

Diana Moses Botkin said...

This is your best work so far! Very strong piece... lovely... sensitive and it makes you want to know the story.

Hands are really quite difficult for many artists. If you can paint hands, you could paint anything!

Dar Presto said...

Thank you, Diana! My opportunities to paint have been few and far between lately, but eventually I'd like to more like this.

rob ijbema said...

don't know the story nor the film
but i do know this is a very interesting painting,the hand is so well done!

Dar Presto said...

Thank you so much, Rob!

laine lea said...

Dar, This is soooo moving! Makes me want to learn teh motivation and keep looking!

Dar Presto said...

Thanks very much, Laine. :)

Shelley Whiting said...

Wow that is a wonderful hand. Very expressive and full of emotion. I love how the hand seems to glow. A very thought provoking and beautiful artwork.

Dar Presto said...

Shelley, thanks for the visit. Expressive and full of emotion are exactly how I would describe your very personal art. Keep it up!