Renée au Soleil - sold

 

oil on canvas, 10"x8"

This is a portrait of Renée Perle, inspired by a black and white photo taken by Jacques-Henri Lartigue circa 1930. She is outdoors in full sun, perhaps in a park or outdoor cafe. I wanted to convey a sense of dazzling mid-day light and how I imagine she must have looked in it. I gave her a bright red sweater setting off a fuzzy white beret and an adorable necklace that wasn't very clear in the photo but I decided it should feature Tahitian black pearls because she would probably have enjoyed those. I have painted Renée several times before and her chic, distinctive style continues to fascinate me. 

Copyright © Pat Kelley. All rights reserved. Copyright does not transfer with the purchase of an original painting, print or other merchandise.

Woman with Red Wine - sold

Oil on canvas, 16"x12"

This is an original oil painting with a moody, vintage feel of a beautiful woman holding a glass of wine at a dimly lit bar.  Shrouded in smoke and mystery, she recalls a long ago era. I wanted to evoke a film noir mood and create a world-weary yet seductive femme fatale...particularly beguiling after sunset.

This painting is part of a series of portraits of women of the 1920's and 1930's. From flappers to starlets, I am very inspired by this glamorous and classic era. 

Copyright © Pat Kelley. All rights reserved. 

Portrait of a Ziegfeld Girl - sold

Oil on canvas 14"x11"

This is a portrait of Mary Nolan, a stage and film actress, singer and dancer who began her career as a popular Ziegfeld Girl in the 1920's. A luminous beauty who had a tumultuous life, I was inspired by her expressive face to create this painting in my version of the dramatic Hollywood illustrations and portrait style of the era. Based loosely on a black and white photo, I created a painterly background of deep peacock blue to offset her golden tones. She is soft and delicate but I am also pleased to have kept the brushwork loose and spontaneous throughout this painting. There is a haunting, soulful quality to this lovely lady that transcends time.

Copyright © Pat Kelley. All rights reserved. 

Flapper in a Pink Cloche Hat - sold

Oil on canvas, 10"x8"

There's something springlike about this flapper girl, She's winsome and fetching, long-necked with wide eyes peeking out from under the brim of a cloche hat. I'm pleased to have created a sense of form and very light-filled shadows on her face mostly with delicate shifts in color and tone. There's an Easter vibe...maybe it's the pretty matching pink of her hat and ruffled blouse combined with the pale blue of the background. The pink in her outfit might be displaying a bit more as a lilac shade than it really is. It's a sort of orchid pink, which teeters on the verge of lavender but isn't...and the background is a pale grayish blue.

I enjoy creating these girls from bygone eras, the style of the times adds such a feeling of character. They seem to arrive with their own lives and stories.

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Mood Indigo - sold

Oil on canvas, 10"x8"

This is a portrait of a moody flapper, one of those that took on a life of her own as I painted her. There's a feeling of mystery about this girl and she called for an inky blue background from which her pallor faintly emerges. She's a girl of dimly lit speakeasies, cool and self contained. I emphasized this muted tonality with soft, impressionistic brushwork and I'm pleased with the subtle hues I achieved. Her eyes are shadowy but you can detect a glint of emerald in their depths. I named this one "Mood Indigo" after one of my favorite Duke Ellington tunes.

Copyright © Pat Kelley. All rights reserved. 

Portrait of a Pensive Flapper - sold

Oil on canvas, 10"x8"

This a portrait of a young woman sporting a version of the Eton Crop, an androgynous hairstyle that gained popularity in the 1920s. Cropped or bobbed hair was a startling departure from the uniformly long hair and elaborate hairdos that women had worn throughout history and a major statement for a rebellious generation. While no doubt many of these women were just following a trend, I like to think of those who were genuinely hoping to break free of gender restrictions and have the same opportunities for self determination and expression as men. I painted this girl in vivid colors to match her bold dreams.

Flapper in a Cloche Hat - sold

Oil on gessoboard panel, 8"x6"

There is a certain intensity to this girl. She's a bit fierce. This may be a result of the slickness of the board surface that results in the paint strokes keeping a certain edge. This makes for a bold look that's a bit different from my work on canvas. I'm not sure I have complete control of the paint on this surface yet but I like some of the accidental results.