Birdman - L

Birdman - L   oil/canvas   14 x 11

is a small oil painting done on site with a young dancer posing in a highly feathered costume.  I should say done...and redone...and redone.  While I did achieve a likeness at the session, I wanted to give more dominance to the headdress.  The background  was worked darker and darker to heighten, I believe, the sense of drama necessary to the subject.  My reference photo was over-flooded with light, so I decided to just go with it.  The goal was to sublimate the the facial features (a finely chiseled young male visage), thereby, throwing attention back to headdress.  I believe that I took this painting as far as it would go.

My recollection of the model was his discomfort from the overheating that it caused...imagine a hot summer day wearing a bird costume.....and more difficult yet....imagine dancing in it!