The Called and the Chosen Portraits

Painted character sketches for The Called and The Chosen:

Jasyar (Joseph Read), Kinco (David Abbott), Sarkov (Andrew Abbott),

Young Jasyar (David Read),

Adelia (Angela Abbott), Colette (Abigail Read), Cecily (Mary Read),

Eleanor (Rachel Read), Constance (Amanda Read),

These offer a more refined glimpse of our costume designs. This time the sketches are actually portraits of the characters. I based them off of the actors, and tried to subsequently create a visual image that they could live up to when we film. We're recycling a lot in this project - the only parts of the costumes made for the girls are the bodices, which are worn around the outside of dresses that we already have (the Eleanor and Constance dresses are homemade dresses that Rachel and I made with our grandmother a few years ago). We've done some filming without the bodices, however, and the result can be seen in the screen shots (note: the burgundy sash that Angela is wearing in those pictures was the first woven piece that Abigail and I completed on the table loom). The boys' costumes have been doubled up with extra jerkins added underneath (made from white sheets - but you can't tell in the screen shots).

I had most of these completed for a long time but didn't upload them for lack of time and will. You see, the original Young Jasyar portrait was ruined when I accidentally spilled black ink on it this summer (note: sometimes it is best to leave well enough alone when it comes to tiny ink touch ups that nobody else notices...the ink spill risk is just not worth it!). It was sad.

So, just this afternoon I finally completed a copy, which involved both tracing of the salvageable aspects of the sketch and some free hand work. But I've found that you just can't make the same portrait twice, even when it is a copy (I don't care how many copies Gilbert Stuart made of George Washington's portrait!).

Anyway, I've got 15 hours of college classes to tend to, so I've been relatively absent from the internet world. I hope to gain a flexible rhythm and change that, however...

~Amanda~