Gallery Walk: The Mother of All Living by Al R. Young

the story in this painting

the creation of this painting

The figure in this painting posed for a Studios photo shoot during the summer of 2008. The figure, the plant material, and the lighting derive from that shoot.

The cloak in which the figure appears was designed and created by the artist several months prior to the shoot.  That costume element was not made from a pattern, but was actually created for another painting project, which has yet to reach the brushwork stage.

Posing a figure for a work like this involves the kind of interaction typical of that between a motion picture director and an actor.  In this case, the pose and expression of emotion were largely the model's idea, which is why the figure's posture, gesture, and expression seem real.  They are.  Of course, the lesson in this is that scriptural characters of great stature and epic renown, speaking in terms of qualities of character and personality, are much more within the grasp of "ordinary" people then ordinary people might suppose.  In this case, the model is neither an actress nor a professional model, but was a young mother whose toddler had to be present simply because being away from Mother was too much to ask.  Stepping into and out of character was only a moment's work, which speaks volumes for the proximity of the Spirit in any mother's daily life.

The compositional work on this painting was completed in July of 2008 and the painting was completed across that summer.

This painting is also one of only a few artworks by the Artists of Al Young Studios that feature the same model playing the same role in more than one painting.

more about Studios techniques and practices

Original artworks produced by the Artists of Al Young Studios are part of themed collections because the Studios is organized after the pattern of the Renaissance workshops of the old masters.  The Artists take the long view of their work as being a lifetime journey toward mastery of artistic expression through selected techniques, reaching as far back as the 16th century.  Artists work as peers in an intensely creative community in which each artist pursues his or her own work as part of the group's philosophy.

Subject-matter research; fabrication and acquisition of such things as costuming, props, accessories; use of models; photography; framing and other in-house Studios services support the work of the Artists.  Artworks are also produced within a strong tradition of curatorial documentation.

The work of the Studios has been ongoing since 1981. The following links present some of the projects we've done and a few of the things we've invented and learned.

Behind the scenes
Creating, equipping, and operating a studio
Technical stuff
Art lessons

Tags: The Mother Of All Living, 2020, Exhibits