Beatrice Townsend by John Singer Sargent - The finished copy

I just picked up my copy of Beatrice Townsend by John Singer Sargent.  I am pretty happy with it and wanted to recap the process.

As a Copyist at the National Gallery of Art I applied for permission...the piece has to be in a gallery that is approved for copyists and since only one copyist can be in a gallery at a time, I have to make sure there is a day available for me to work.  When I got the green light from the Registrars office I began my research...I had requested the Sargent piece and was thrilled that it was available for me to copy on Fridays.  First I looked up anything I could find on Beatrice Townsend but found precious little. I then researched Sargent and found a lot of good information including his palette.  It was explained and the author added colors I could use today since I was not familiar with some of the colors on the list.  I got this from Aaron Miller's blog and found it most informative. 

After reading a bit and researching I was itching to get started and I began sketching.  I usually sketch the piece two or three times just to see how everything lines up...where everything is on the canvas.  I like to have a good idea before I go to the gallery.  I also print out a small 8 x 10 copy of the piece to use for reference.  Once I feel comfortable with the sketches I head to the National Gallery of Art to begin. 

I brought a blank canvas and started at the very beginning.  Once I completed the sketching  and made sure everything was in the right place I started placing in colors.  I worked on matching brush strokes, especially with the little dog.  Those strokes were very definite and defining.  

Here are some pictures of me working a the gallery.

It is very common to have people stop and watch.  Solitude is the norm for my workday...so this sudden influx of interest in what I am doing takes some getting used to.  I am surprised at how well I am able to tune people out and just concentrate on the task at hand.  Having said that I try to be helpful and pleasant to anyone who has a comment or question for me.  

It was a challenge but great fun and I cannot wait to start my next piece.

National Gallery of Art - Beatrice Townsend by John Singer Sargent

I am at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC again and working on Beatrice Townsend by John Singer Sargent.  I was having some difficulty with my colors last week so researched Sargent's palette and practiced mixing some colors in preparation of this weeks visit.  I am making progress...I did a lot of work on the background the face and the little puppy.  I still have a lot to do on the face...but thank heaven I have time!  ;)  For the puppy I concentrated on the exact brush strokes to show the dog's features.  It was so fun to think that I am trying to copy the exact brush strokes!!!  It really was evident more than any other part of the painting because the strokes are so defined.  

My joke of the week...an elderly lady walked up to me and asked if I painted the one on the wall also.  I really thought she was joking so I replied that I DID but it was many years ago.  I told her I was much older than I looked.  She walked away nodding!!!  I had to run after her and tell her I was joking!  It was painted by John Singer Sargent and I had her read the information under the painting.  Whew!!!   

I was, once again, overwhelmed by the complimentary comments of the visitors to the gallery.  Most people are so very nice.  Only one man said "it kind of looks like he one on the wall"...I thought ....kinda is OK...after all it IS JOHN SINGER SARGENT for pete's sake!  

Beatrice Townsend at the National Gallery of Art

I am back at the National Gallery of Art painting Beatrice Townsend by John Singer Sargent.   This is the result of my first day's work.  I still have a lot to do but I am pleased with my progress so far.  I really haven't touched the face but everything else has been at least blocked in and some things shaded a bit.  I remember thinking I could not wait to get to that red sash...that beautiful red sash.  I grabbed a glob of alizarin crimson and stroked the canvas....AACK!!!  The sash is NOT alizarin crimson red.  It is much more terra cotta/orange red.  The lessons I learn when I *think* I know what I am doing!!!  So with the correct color mixed I painted the sash.  Happy happy me.  

I start out at home sketching the piece and getting a feel for where everything is.  It is all about relationships.  Once I was pretty comfortable with the sketch I headed to the gallery.

When at the National Gallery of art I set up my easel and began sketching on the canvas.  I brought a blank white canvas.  My first two tries were not successful...but undaunted I persevered and managed to get everything in the right place...or pretty close!

My loving husband of 39 years (our anniversary is the 15th!!!) stopped by to see how I was doing and took some actions shots!

I did get quite a few questions from visitors this time...a lot of people asking about the process of applying to become a copyist.  I always try to be helpful and pleasant.  As I packed up to leave a groups of teenage girls stopped by and asked if they could take a picture of me with my painting...there exact words were "you are awesome"!!!  So I left the gallery with a huge smile on my face that will take days to fade.