Feelin' It

 

oil on panel, 14" x 11"

This is the third in a series of break dancers I'm having fun with.  She's wild!

Polina

oil on panel, 18" x 14"

This is a painting of the Russian ballerina Polina Seminova, who was used as the subject of a painting workshop conducted by Jacob Dhein on the figure in motion.  I may do more to it after the last layer of paint dries.  Lots of paint on this one.  Updated 4/14/2025:  Made some changes, adding a few more color notes here and there.

Private Moment

oil on panel, 24" x 12"

This is a portrait of Chloe Misseldine, a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre.  I was drawn in by the dramatic lighting of her tutu, plus the backlit areas of her upper body, and also the tired posture perhaps revealing the aftermath of strenuous dancing.

Le Grand Jeté

oil on panel, 18" x 18"
SOLD

This narrative painting really put me through my paces.  It proved to be quite a challenge, palette-wise.  I had first determined I wanted a green background but switched my preference after the fact to a cool blue. The process took ages because of the slow drying time of oil paint.  The dancer here is Olga Smirnova, prima ballerina with the Bolshoi, who emigrated to The Netherlands at the outset of Putin's invasion of Ukraine, stating she was "against this war with every fibre of my soul."  I've depicted her here leaping westward over Mt. Elbrus in Russia, toward The Netherlands, her safe haven, where she now dances with the Dutch Royal Ballet.  Also heading west is a sympathetic soul in the white stork, the national bird of Ukraine. The sunflower in her hair has lost a couple petals, but remains vibrant, a testament to the resilience of the Ukrainian people.