A four-hour portrait painting of Victoria Victrola in Berlin!

Victoria Victrola by Suzanne Forbes Feb 27 2017When you live in Berlin, your friends tell you when their friends are coming to town.

victoria victrola by Suzanne Forbes Oct 2008Our latest visitor from the US is Miss Victoria Victrola, a Bay Area based musician, entertainer and event creator.

She is well known in the Bay for her music and her delightful tea parties, enjoyed at such events as the Edwardian Ball. (There’s an upcoming one with Edwardian Ball house band Rosin Coven too!)

When Whitney sent me her contact info, I thought, she looks familiar! I’ve drawn this woman at an event somewhere!

 

I looked through my hundreds of drawings on flickr and found one I’d done of Victoria doing a living statue performance in 2008, as seen above.

So I asked Victoria if she would pose for me again, and she came by on Sunday afternoon and we made this lovely painting.

Victoria Victrola by Suzanne Forbes WIP Feb 27 2017

Her attire, a true vintage suit and hat, was so charming.

Victoria Victrola by Suzanne Forbes WIP Feb 27 2017

She works one day a week at OverAttired, the exquisitely sourced and curated vintage clothing shop of my friends Sam and Monica.

Victoria Victrola by Suzanne Forbes WIP Feb 27 2017

We had a wonderful visit, catching up on news from our community in SF, Oakland and Berkeley. After we’d finished the sitting and gone downstairs to the pub for some hearty German fare, I explained that I would finish the picture the next day.

Victoria Victrola by Suzanne Forbes WIP Feb 27 2017

The final adjustments to a portrait, like tuning in on a radio station, are best made the following day with fresh eyes and hands and a clean palette. Above is the picture the way it looked when I picked it up this “morning” (around 2pm, after coffee) and below is after the final corrections.Victoria Victrola by Suzanne Forbes CU Feb 27 2017

I’ve been painting on board for the first time in decades and really enjoying it. A smooth surface is so receptive to detail. I’m very grateful to Whits for connecting me with Victoria, and to Victoria for a bright dose of gothic rococo vintage chic and charm in late winter!

 

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