22.03.2020: We all know them, moments when we are busy with something and music is playing in the background, and then a new song starts and at the first chords a "Wow!". We drop everything, sit down and listen spellbound to this music. This is what happened to me the other day with the chanson 'Allô maman bobo' by Alain Souchon, interpreted by the young French-Canadians Elliot Maginot and the saxophonist Félix Petit. Already the first notes of the saxophone intro and afterwards the transition to the intro of the acoustic guitar completely blew me away. Often cover songs can't hold a candle to the original. But this interpretation convinces me even more than the original - for me a little masterpiece. Since then, I have listened to this recording again and again.
I found a beautiful photo of Elliot Maginot on the internet, a studio shot with a discreet background and bright light vertically from above, which leads to strong contrast in the face and hard shadows. After my last painting of Marilyn Monroe with only the three primary colours, this template is well suited to try something completely different and more differentiated in terms of colour. Format 80/80 cm, background raw linen, primed with black gesso. I apply the first layer of the background with a roller and for the figure I use a broad brush and paint with a thick consistency. I limit myself to burnt umber, blue and orange as well as mixed white to lighten the colour.
And by the way, my secret star in this painting is the singer's right hand. From my point of view, it is one of the best hands I have painted so far...
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