Mixed Memories - Plaid

How did I get here?  I'm working on a series of oil paintings that are mixed memories - ie family memories based on B&W photos taken by the late, great, E.A. Autrey in the 1950s and 1960s juxtaposed with more recent color photos I've taken.  Various mock-ups happened, then several painting versions were done until the minimal plaid dress (top) is all that remains.  5x7 oil on stretched linen.
 

A Day at North Beach Video

Family having fun at North Beach in Pt. Reyes, May 2021.  Soundtrack includes The Swan by Saint-Saens and Bernard Romberg cello music played by Susan Manata, and the original composition Elegy by J.L. Autrey with Susan Manata on cello and J.L. Autrey on piano. 

Hiking Dry Marin in the Month of May

Post Covid-19 vaccinations, a family visit and hike up into the dry hills of Marin County, with fire hazard grass being eaten by goats in the distance. Video and Soundtrack by Lucy Autrey Wilson with original music by Greg Manata. Copyright Lucy Autrey Wilson, 2021. Full screen version of video on my YouTube channel here

Two Lucys - New Painting

 Two Lucys 

16 x 20 oil on stretched canvas

My head, at two different ages, replaces the heads of a boy and his sister, from a photo the late, great,  E.A. Autrey shot in the 1950s.  I was going for kind of a Diane Arbus/Alice Neel look.  

Painting Mock-Ups

 

Working on the concept for a series of Flowery Memories of Childhood with small 5x7 oil on canvas paintings of my family (parents and siblings) set against floral backgrounds.  The original concept was to paint the humans with few facial details and in odd skin colors to blend in more artistically with the looser floral backgrounds (once painted).  There has been a suggestion, however, that it would be preferable to paint both the individuals and the flowers with more realistic details.  More opinions welcome!

Option A:  Paint both background and people in realistic colors with facial details included (example Lucy bottom pic)

Option B:  Paint backgrounds and people in bolder colors with fewer details (example Lucy 2nd to bottom pic)

These smaller paintings are companion pieces to my bigger 18x24 oil paintings in process (see below)

This Beautiful World

View from Marin County of San Francisco Bay, including Angel Island, and in the distance, Mt. Diablo.  Shot walking the Dipsea trail from Muir Woods in Mill Valley to Stinson Beach.  Nice workout, lovely views.  More landscape pics taken during this hike at  Lucy Autrey Wilson (@lucyautreywilson) • Instagram photos and videos and some with people below

I Agree

 Walking around the neighborhood, I spotted this sign.  Couldn't agree more (although not all the time!)