Painting entitled Mona and Lisa
(The following is Part 3 of a series of paintings by Signpost staff, Faye Hall. These were inspired by photographs Steve Bell brought back from India in 2008. To view other paintings in the series, see the links at the bottom of the page.)
Steve told us that everywhere they went in India, his wife Nanci was always surrounded by a crowd of laughing, giggling women and children. Often, the women wanted to show Nanci their homes, or touch her earrings and skin.
The smiling woman in the Mona and Lisa portrait invited Steve and Nanci into her home to meet her family. They had a joyful exchange and showed her pictures of their own children, including their then pregnant daughter Sarah. Steve said, “She burst into a jubilant laugh when she realized I was telling her we were soon to be grandparents.”
Painting entitled Bihar Family
This world of ours has so many contrasts. I painted the Bihar Family (mother and two children) because I loved the contrast of the shadows with the white sun-baked street and the colourful clothing and antics of the children with the obvious despair of the mother.The portrait of the two women shows the contrast of pure happiness and suspicious sadness – I named it Mona and Lisa – in honour of Leonardo DaVinci’s Mona Lisa. I worked particularly hard to portray this woman’s likeness, and found myself smiling as I painted it….
- Faye Hall, Director of Order and Fulfillment, Signpost Music
Original Mona and Lisa Photo by Steve Bell
Original Bihar Family Photo by Steve Bell
Posted on September 28th
[...] Part Three This entry was posted on Monday, September 28th, 2009 at 4:04 pm and is filed under Bangladesh. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. [...]
Posted on September 28th
[...] Part Three [...]
Posted on September 28th
[...] Part Three [...]
Posted on September 2nd
Hi: I loved the paintings. You did an amazing likeness in both. What medium did you use, acrylic or oil. How long have you painted? I have painted some family portraits in watercolor so I do appreciate your paintings. I am inspired by your work.
< blockquote>Reply from Faye: Keep painting, Sharon! I use oils – my personal preference. Have done some watercolour too – took some lessons on a trip to Guatemala with a watercolourist teacher and Steve Bell as guest musician. Go figure – it was before I worked here.
Posted on September 2nd
Wonderful paintings Faye. I especially love the emotion you captured in the mothers face on the Bihar Family picture.
Posted on September 2nd
Faye, your work is amazing. The likenesses are incredible. You truly have a gift.
Posted on September 1st
Faye, your paintings are beautiful. I would love to see your paintings available as prints on the Website or through Signpost Music.
< blockquote>Reply from Faye: Thank you for your kind words! I have had prints made of the first five paintings (12″x14″). If anyone is interested in purchasing one, you can call me here at Signpost 1-800-854-3499 for more info. Thanks!!
Posted on September 1st
Well done Faye! My wife and I lived in Bangladesh for 4 and a half years and your paintings capture the real spirit of the women–better than the photographs do. When I look at them it makes me homesick to see those remarkable women again.