From First Steps To
Red Sequins
acrylic painting and colored graphite sticks on heavy watercolor paper
18 x 67 inches
2009

This is the first painting done since the Nicholas Pearce course I took in summer 2009. I photographed Aprile Dunlop's Circus of the Wheel performance in 2007 and this image has been simmering in the back of my mind since then. It was exciting to bring it forth on this fabulous heavy paper with a wonderful torn edge. It sits in a black wooden box.

For some reason I played the cd The Phantom Of The Opera over and over as I painted this. Certainly it has some of the theatrical and costume elements that the song Masquerade portrayed with dazzling costumed actors coming down the stairs in the stage show. Fabulous music to paint this dramatic piece to!

Paula O'Brien accepts commissions for expressive portrait paintings and figurative art.