Leggings in the Canyon (Ellis)

by Godfrey J. Ellis – 12×16 Acrylic Oct 2019

This portrait was a Christmas gift for my precocious and full-of-life granddaughter, Sadie. It was based on a photo taken during a visit to Superior Canyon in the Tonton National Forest in Arizona (see below). I was concerned not only about the rocks of the cliff wall but also her complicated leggings and the complex shadows. As you can see, I moved us closer together to make a better composition. All of this was new to me and it was like a puzzle to be solved. I was happier with my resemblance than hers.

The look on Sadie’s face as she is holding her Christmas portrait says it all. She is a lively, sassy, little girl ready to take on the world.

The family hung this painting in the living room and Sadie wanted it in her bedroom. So, my wife took a photo of the painting and I digitally took myself out of it. Then she printed it out on fabric so that she could make a pillow out of it. That way, Sadie could have the picture in her bedroom. We gave it to them the next Christmas. Here is Saddie’s pillow.

Below is a photo of an early version of the painting. It is still in the “awkward” (AKA “ugly”) phase that most paintings go through. As you can see, I did the rock cliff wall first. I was putting off tackling those leggings!!