When I received the rough sketches from Tara to choose between I immediately loved both drawings but was more so drawn to this one which was more of how I envisioned the final painting. If you're familiar with her piece "Lightning Bolts in My Chest" you know how beautiful and captivating it is. That was the piece that I had requested her to use as inspiration. Yes this definitely strays far from that piece but there is a beautiful elegance that drew me to her. When I was giving her ideas I said to possibly have her in a beautiful Japanese Garden which you can see elements of here.
After seeing both sketches I simply couldn't get them out of my head so I asked about purchasing them to keep the creative process together. She was so happy I wanted to do that and sold me both. Absolutely thrilled to have them. It wasn't until they arrived that I realized she had actually sent me the sister piece to the design I chose. She told me that she had created this one first but "I thought her pose was a little too demure, and wanted her to be a little more upright to infer a bit more power in her pose" so she redrew her and sent me that as the rough to choose from. I'm actually ecstatic she sent me this one instead since it gives another glimpse into the process. Honestly I loved this one more than the initial since it shows more of her kimono and has a beautiful flow. Such an elegant little drawing. We did discuss a few changes to the final drawing which include letting her hair flow down her back rather than having the hairpiece which will open up the design for more of the Japanese Garden detail. There's just something beautiful about the simplicity of her hair down that just appeals more to me than the ornate headpiece. Also without the headpiece she'll be able to adjust the drawing to see more of her sleeve that she had removed from the redraw making the piece closer resemble this drawing. She is also very interested in using leafing of some kind so I'm excited to see what she has planned. I'm not interfering with any more of the creative process so the colors and patterns she chooses are going to be totally up to her. Whatever she comes up with is going to be absolutely breathtaking and so worth the wait. Happy to have both of these wonderful Kimono Girl sketches and so excited to be one step closer to finally having a Tara McPherson painting in my collection.
Size 3.375x4.25"
