General Discussion

PatentlyDemocratic

(89 posts)

29. Both have distracting elements

Mon Feb 12, 2018, 03:20 PM

Feb 2018

In his portrait, he disappears into the foliage. In her portrait, the dress dominates. Seems strange to draw the eye away from the subject.

Technically, his portrait is superior, although his hands are far too big (inside joke?).

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Want a closer look at the Obama portraits? Found these high-quality images on the CNN website. [View all] Skinner Feb 2018 OP

Still don't like them - especially Michelle's. It doesn't look remotely like her. Vinca Feb 2018 #1

Agreed re Michelle's portrait. If I didn't know that was a portrait of Michelle Obama, No Vested Interest Feb 2018 #20

When I first saw it, PatSeg Feb 2018 #46

don't like either one. n/t Brainstormy Feb 2018 #63

Agree, it does not look like her Perseus Feb 2018 #24

One more thing Perseus Feb 2018 #28

Michelle and Barack are young enough that there may be other, No Vested Interest Feb 2018 #58

I had to go back and look Cha Feb 2018 #94

Between two ferns? nt tblue37 Feb 2018 #78

I heard someone on one of the MSNBC shows DeminPennswoods Feb 2018 #93

Completely agree dflprincess Feb 2018 #87

I like the portraits! Iliyah Feb 2018 #2

Absolutely agree! Artist captured their essence, and RestoreAmerica2020 Feb 2018 #62

I tend not to trust most politicians for obvious reasons, these two changed me on that. Eliot Rosewater Feb 2018 #3

I think both portraits are wonderful.... CatMor Feb 2018 #4

Wonderful portraits canetoad Feb 2018 #5

I can't help this reaction to Barack's portrait... Louis1895 Feb 2018 #6

They just showed them on MSNBC BigmanPigman Feb 2018 #57

President Obama looks so wise. Corgigal Feb 2018 #7

I'm not a big fan of these. NCTraveler Feb 2018 #17

Barack's hands are too big greymattermom Feb 2018 #8

Hmmm..... LAS14 Feb 2018 #12

Could be a joke LittleGirl Feb 2018 #30

Compare the two grantcart Feb 2018 #31

ROFL!!! calimary Feb 2018 #38

Imagine a photo or cartoon Funtatlaguy Feb 2018 #101

I love them! Cracklin Charlie Feb 2018 #9

Love them malaise Feb 2018 #10

'Good' art does not need to be explained. demmiblue Feb 2018 #11

IKR? Every college/university has at least one professor whose job it is to explain art. Gidney N Cloyd Feb 2018 #33

I got my Bach. Fine Arts and attended 3 art schools BigmanPigman Feb 2018 #59

Thank you again Skinner BumRushDaShow Feb 2018 #13

A Golden Age of Fresh Ideas and Diversity bucolic_frolic Feb 2018 #14

Thanks, Skinner! ailsagirl Feb 2018 #15

Those look far better than what I've been seeing elsewhere. Mr.Bill Feb 2018 #16

The longer I look, the better I like. n/t LuckyCharms Feb 2018 #18

Simply lovely! MrScorpio Feb 2018 #19

Personally I think they're hideous, PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2018 #21

That's the word I was going to use too Poiuyt Feb 2018 #64

Same here customerserviceguy Feb 2018 #104

Barack's portrait looks exactly like him. 3catwoman3 Feb 2018 #22

Curious choice of artist Morris64 Feb 2018 #23

Excellent choice of artist. Iggo Feb 2018 #32

Welcome to DU, Morris64! calimary Feb 2018 #39

It makes sense if you look at that artist's other works BumRushDaShow Feb 2018 #43

Yes, yes, both artists have captured Barack and Michelle perfectly in a kennedy Feb 2018 #89

Meanwhile BumRushDaShow Feb 2018 #95

Pro-Trump trolls are coordinating a smear campaign against Obama portrait artist, Kehinde Wiley demmiblue Feb 2018 #67

Not, bot. brush Feb 2018 #81

Hey, Morris! MrScorpio Feb 2018 #97

Thank you for this!!! Morris64 Feb 2018 #105

For what its worth, this is still a kill whitey thing Morris64 Feb 2018 #106

Every single one of those paintings by European and American artists are "kill whitey" depictions MrScorpio Feb 2018 #109

Interesting parallels to be drawn, huh? Morris64 Feb 2018 #110

You may want to take a look at this before you talk about the artist's paintings geardaddy Feb 2018 #98

Kill whitey Morris64 Feb 2018 #107

Style-wise, I love Michelle's... But it doesn't look much like her. Dr Hobbitstein Feb 2018 #25

That's about where I'm at, too. Gidney N Cloyd Feb 2018 #36

I don't understand Michelle's dress Sanity Claws Feb 2018 #26

At first, I wasn't much taken with the portrait of Michelle. TygrBright Feb 2018 #27

Me too. They both said the artist got to the real person.... LAS14 Feb 2018 #45

To me it looks like an expression of challenge- not least to herself. n/t TygrBright Feb 2018 #49

Both have distracting elements PatentlyDemocratic Feb 2018 #29

The eye of the beholder strikes again! eleny Feb 2018 #50

Thank you! blogslut Feb 2018 #34

President Obamas captures him....strength and compassion. MLAA Feb 2018 #35

Could and should have been better - packman Feb 2018 #37

Sooooo.... MontanaMama Feb 2018 #40

I love them. eom ploppy Feb 2018 #41

They are both just wonderful ornotna Feb 2018 #42

The large hands orangecrush Feb 2018 #44

Actually, in person, they don't seem large at all. DFW Feb 2018 #47

You are quite fortunate orangecrush Feb 2018 #48

Several times, actually. DFW Feb 2018 #52

Thank you, Sir orangecrush Feb 2018 #69

No need DFW Feb 2018 #91

I love both portraits. underthematrix Feb 2018 #51

A big thank you to the artist for Michelle Obama's bare arm! eleny Feb 2018 #53

I like the one of Michelle, particularly her dress. It's just striking. PatrickforO Feb 2018 #54

I think both portraits are excellent. planetc Feb 2018 #55

My first impression was that Michelles portrait looks more like the artist then Michelle Sucha NastyWoman Feb 2018 #56

Peter Max came immediately to mind DeminPennswoods Feb 2018 #60

It's art, not photorealism. I find them both powerful yet sympathetic. fierywoman Feb 2018 #61

My gripe: there's no warmth or authenticity to either of these Auggie Feb 2018 #65

I intensely dislike the Barack painting Nevernose Feb 2018 #66

K&R! Omaha Steve Feb 2018 #68

classy people heaven05 Feb 2018 #70

Enough to make one change his mind! Atman Feb 2018 #71

I'd have preferred something a bit more formal and dignified... less trendy pop-culture. NurseJackie Feb 2018 #72

Nowhere near presidential enough rocktivity Feb 2018 #73

I want to like them but... StarryNite Feb 2018 #74

Meh, Bob Ross could have done a better job. edbermac Feb 2018 #75

What is "off" about the face of Michelle's portrait, IMO, is the right side... 3catwoman3 Feb 2018 #76

Ooohhh--she is wearing her famous blue-grey nail color! I didn't notice that in tblue37 Feb 2018 #77

I think Michelle's eyes are more prominent in realty. Ilsa Feb 2018 #79

God what were they thinking. I think they are awful. Sorry I doc03 Feb 2018 #80

I like them too mcar Feb 2018 #82

I am an artist kpete Feb 2018 #83

Thanks! It really brings home how special the Obamas are. How they... LAS14 Feb 2018 #88

As a fellow artist I totally agree! WePurrsevere Feb 2018 #103

Love them both! rusty fender Feb 2018 #84

They make me miss them. Lifelong Protester Feb 2018 #85

I hope the Obamas are happy with the portraits. SharonClark Feb 2018 #86

I adore them ismnotwasm Feb 2018 #90

What struck me was how similar BHO's portrait was to a family portrait of us about 20 years ago. DFW Feb 2018 #92

I like Michelle's but Barack looks about 80 in that portrait. octoberlib Feb 2018 #96

There is such a thing as trying entirely too hard. nt Codeine Feb 2018 #99

I think they're stunning. I love them. fishwax Feb 2018 #100

I was looking for this, thank you. saidsimplesimon Feb 2018 #102

I think they are gorgeous. Thanks for the pictures. Demsrule86 Feb 2018 #108