Violinist Time Lapse

The Violinist, based on Shannon Frid of Cloud Cult, was a genuine pleasure to paint. In this time lapse you can see that when I began this painting she was seated next to a window at sunset. The lighting that day was so beautiful. As I painted I realized that I could show her beauty off so much better if I created a dark background. When I put stage lighting behind her  the light coming in from the window fit perfectly. That lighting creates such an intimacy with the detail of her skin and face.

Cloud cult's music is so visual and with their painters performing along with the band I always associate the two together. It was natural to add color to the violin itself - as if the violin makes music by its very being - even when it isn't being played.

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As always your comments are welcome and appreciated.

Lighting Approaches

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I went to a concert in West Seattle where my favorite band Cloud Cult was playing. It was their first acoustic concert so they weren't expecting many people. They performed at the Arts in Nature festival the day after performing at the Seattle Center. Of course everyone wanted to be there!! The small community center they performed in was surrounded by a crowd because there was only room for about 80 people inside. The windows were open with people standing in the gardens outside and on the grounds. It was like the whole city had come to listen to them perform in what felt like a living room. We spent the day at the festival so we could be sure we were the first in line for Cloud Cult's concert. We earned our front row seats! They are all such amazing performers and kind people it was a real treat to be part of their first acoustic performance. My youngest daughter even made it her mission to give each of them a hug by the time we left that evening.  It was very memorable.

The band performed as the sunset streamed in through the window. The 'golden hour' light that lasts so long on an August night was spectacular. That was when the photograph was taken that I based this painting on.  Shannon Frid, their amazing violinist, was sitting near that window and had the lighting streaming across her face. When I first painted this I tried to paint the light coming through the window - but really it was too much detail and a distraction from her beautiful face. So I chose to use light rays more similar to a stage performance as a simple background.