Comments on: Portrait of a (fat) Lady

By: Fabrisse

Fabrisse — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 11:58:57 +0000

Just piggy backing onto Susan C.’s idea about art students — If your town has a university or other institution that offers degrees in fine arts, the painting students are required to show their work. The exhibits are often free, but I recommend seeing if you can get on the guest list for the opening party which might involve a contribution. The students are often at the opening and you can discuss things with the ones whose work intrigues you.

By: Regina

Regina — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 08:45:59 +0000

Hmmm…I’m not really too sure if the women that hired this artist Les Toil feel as if they’re settling for second best. I’ve been a fan of his work for about a dozen years now and his Toil girl clients seem as sincerely excited about their portraits as I would be if I could purchase his time and talent. I think he’s got a great kitschy cheesecake style that really isn’t worth any deep aesthetic or social examination. And as far as his preference to mainly do pinup art of large ladies, we’ve dealt with a very unapologetic planet that has blatantly shunned big women for many, many years. And I for one see their obsession for thin women no more of a personal fetish than Les’ affinity for thicker women. And he seems to be a lot more visible and vocal about his appreciation for big women than most men who really do keep their lust for fat women on their computer screen and behind closed doors.

By: Margo A

Margo A — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 05:25:25 +0000

I have a lovely little watercolor sketch of myself, acquired from a Haight Ashbury artist who specialized in the “want to get your portrait painted?” method of seduction. I suppose that sounds a bit sordid to some , but once one is of A Certain Age, these things magically transform from tawdry incidents into exotic memories of one’s Bohemian past.

By: Madame Suggia

Madame Suggia — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 03:57:30 +0000

Aaaah, yes…when I get around to having my portrait done (as I certainly will) it’s going to look like an Augustus John http://www.npg.si.edu/cexh/brush/index/portraits/bankhead.htm; It’s going to be HUGE; and it’s going to hang in my red red red drawing room, which will look just like Mrs. Vreeland’s. http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/red-living-room-xlg-22203997.jpg
Yes indeedy.

By: Whitney

Whitney — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 00:29:13 +0000

My portrait? John. Singer. Sargent. He did the most beautiful skin.

And hubby confirms that Toil suxxorz and he’d be a bit squirmy if one of his friends saw me nekkid.

By: Amy Liegh Johnson

Amy Liegh Johnson — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 20:33:30 +0000

As an artist, and a plus size lady. . .I LOVE what you have to say here. Why compromise? Especially why compromise when you are purchasing ART?! If you are commissioning you should get exactly. what. YOU. want.

I’m a children’s illustrator. . .And, I’m just sayin. . .You -the buyer- should be selective and get what YOU want.

Love it Lovey!

By: raincoaster

raincoaster — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:06:30 +0000

I’d kill to get my portrait painted by Francis Bacon. Too bad he’s dead and hated women anyway.

John Curren paints an awesome portrait. I hope one day to be rich enough to afford him.

By: Plumcake

Plumcake — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:28:40 +0000

@Gold Digger: HA! My mother for some bizarre reason had one of those. I believe there was one with a motorcycle jacket involved. She was naturally a very pretty woman, so she would’ve been beautiful and alluring if they’d just washed her face and took a photo. Instead she looked like –and I say this with all affection due my mother– a worn-out hooker who followed the carnival.

In full disclosure, my senior portraits were of the Glamour Shots variety, but I insisted on the traditional drape and then for fun a back shot in a huge white boa and pearls which, while not in the best of taste, I was Peggy freakin’ Guggenheim compared to most of the pap they produced.

By: The gold digger

The gold digger — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:14:56 +0000

That’s so much cooler than a Glamour Shot!

You mean you don’t want a photo of yourself overly made up, with Big Pouffy Hair and your hands in an unnatural position next to your face, that you can send to all your friends who will then wonder what the heck they are supposed to do with it as they almost don’t recognize the cowgirl in the picture?

By: Plumcake

Plumcake — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:44:52 +0000

@Josie, I love Hilda too! I plan on wholeheartedly attempting to get my fleshy redhead pal to be Hilda for Halloween. I won’t win, but at least I will have tried.