Figure Painting and a Smile

Flying High 12 x 16

I paint lots of sandy people, people playing on the beach, because that's where I live, and that's where I get my inspiration. I try to capture the essense of people who go to the beach -- serene sand play, gazing at the horizon, introspection while sitting in the sand, and breathing in the salt aire while walking along the coastline. I try to do more than just figure drawing -- I have pursued a life-long study of how people feel, and endeavor to show it in their body.

Castle Builder 6 x 6

I love to capture people in a moment of introspective time, walking away or looking down at their sandcastles. I concentrate on the whole figure, with just a hint of people's faces. However, the devil is in the details -- I find it extremely important that the faces be perfectly painted and be beautiful.

People have asked me why don't I capture more of my little people's faces -- it's simple: While faces are important, I don't love the exactness of portraits -- I simply feel that the energy of the whole figure is more interesting.

People have also asked me why my people don't usually smile.While I do occasionally paint smiling children, I love to get introspection and emotion. A smile is one-dimensional. In other words, you know that person is happy, which is wonderful. But a non-smile can mean many things, and interpretation can be many levels. In other words, I believe you can conjure more emotional complexity when you paint your subject as not smiling.

--Mary Hubley  www.maryhubley.com