Commission

This pastel drawing ‘Pearls – 01-03-16’ was commissioned work and the purpose was to capture sensuality and through cubist forms get the round female shapes. The idea was to portray her with the intention to give it to her partner as a gift. Correspondingly we worked together for two sessions in order to search for the right sensual look that looks honest without pulling cheap erotic tricks.

Taking up the Challenge

As stated, not erotic but sensual. Up to then I mostly portrayed live models adopting academical poses, like the previous pastel drawing ‘Hélène – Model Session – 09-01-16’ or glamour in their art deco sceneries. It often is through a commission once in a while that, as an artist, one will be forced to enter new realms of thinking.

Voluptuous

The lady wanted a pastel in my cubist style and therefor I layed big plains of oranges and pinks that I compensated by means of some blue and greens. The yellow function as high lights. From a tonal point of view I kept the background very dark so it would flow right into the body right under her breasts, creation a caesura in the middle of the pastel. The reason was to grant the spectator some visual rest midway. Otherwise the depiction would feel rather lumpish.

Pearls

Last but not least, since it was her commission I asked if she would like to give the pastel a suitable name. She came up with the title ‘Pearls’ because she wears them every day.

Click here to read about the sale of this art work to a russian collector.

Click part 1, part 2 to read about the sale of two prints through icanvas.com.

Pastel drawing on Canson Mi-Teintes Touch paper (50 x 65 x 0.1 cm)

Artist: Corné Akkers