Oil Painting : Myself as Giovanna Tornabuoni

This is the oil painting of myself as Giovanna Tornabuoni. It is about the same size as Ghirlandaio's original painting of Giovanna from 1488, but slightly wider. The glazing technique I used offers more luminosity than can be seen here. It also has a sheen that is very difficult to photograph, but I think you get the main idea.

Myself as Giovanna Tornabuoni

Just some role playing with Photoshop. I'm thinking of ideas for a painting project that remarks on 15th century Italian painting. I love the idea of a portrait in profile. So much has been said about the lack of personality in a profile, and the disempowerment of the subject.
"Your gaze hits the side of my face." Did Barbara Kruger coin that one?

Well, if only I was a Florentine patrician girl. Life would have been short and sweet. A life dominated by my power hungry father and my OH so virtuous mother...a marriage...and a sudden, but not unexpected, death in childbirth.

The Dance

Oil on Canvas 48"x48"

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New Fruits

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Tenney-Lapham Art Walk : Sunday June 25

My studio will be open for viewing

from 1pm-5pm

UPDATE: thank you to all who stopped by!

Gallery and 'Ten in Common' Art Opening

INVITATION to my next SHOW opening June 17, 2006 6-9pm

New Paintings in Progress

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Promega Art Opening: 20 Recent Paintings through June 2

View of the Main Gallery

Very well attended opening!

Before the crowds

Viewers examining 'Turkish Tea Garden'

Erin, Jess, Katelyn (last show..photo by sarah plummer)

Portrait of Sara Wins Best of Show!

MADISON, Wis. - January 28
Katelyn Alain's oil painting 'Portrait of Sara' was awarded Best of Show at the State Street Gallery Juried Invitational. 'Portrait of Sara' was the big winner, while 'Crazy Dress' brought in an honorable mention.

Contact Me

Spring Exhibition Schedule

State Street Gallery
Juried Art Invitational Reception: Saturday January 28 6-9 PM 109 State Street, Madison, WI Come see this Juried Invitational of emerging artists! (Judges hand out awards at 7PM) UPDATE: I won Best in Show!!

7th Floor Gallery
Come see what 26 MFA candidates are working on! Visit the 7th Floor Gallery in the Humanities building on the UW campus between Feb 17- March 3. UPDATE: Thank you to all who came! Photo above.

Promega Gallery
THE BIG EXHIBITION of this year 20 paintings will be on view March-June 2 at the Promega Gallery in Madison. Don't miss the opening March 7 with great food, wine, and music! UPDATE: A success! Photos of reception above. Paintings up thru June 2..still time to come out and see it! MAP

Common Wealth Gallery
'Ten in Common' Group Show I will be showing new work at the Commonwealth Gallery from June 15 to June 29 along with 9 other area artists. This promises to be one successful exhibition! See our Ten in Common invitation!

Recent Work Publicity

Crazy Dress. A New Work

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New Paintings: Stacey and Sara

Both paintings are:
40x60 inches on canvas.

*Better photos will be added to my website soon.

From the closing reception of the CitiArts Gallery Show. 10-28-05






The little yellow sticker to the right of 'David' has the reference number 9 on it. Is that interesting to anyone? ;)

The steps to completing 'Sara' in my studio.

Self-Portrait as The Artist

40x50 inches on Gallery Wrapped Canvas.

Figure is life sized. She is painting a painting. The painting in the painting is a work in progress. The actual painting is now finished.


Click the image to enlarge and see details.

Ambiguous #1

Expressionistic Self

40x40 inches. Oil paint and sand on gallery wrapped canvas.


Click image to enlarge and see texture.

Background ideas and richness of color...

Sometimes I stare at this Sari and wish that I had the ability to paint it the way Vermeer might have. Even though I may be lightyears away from painting that way, I'd still like to try to use it as inspiration for the background in an upcoming set of portraits.