JoAnn Tobin (see FIGURINES #12: JOANN) snapped this photo of Peter and Rebecca Monaghan at Marsha's and my wedding in 1993.  The image had always made a huge impression on me and, I suppose, it was only a matter of time until I tried to do something with it.  In the months prior to working on this I had backed into a couple of projects that revived my interest in the FIGURINES concept again.  (Andy and Rachel and "Periwinkle") When I decided to commit to doing several more (they are best in aggregate) Peter and Rebecca was the one I wanted to do first!

 

There is the dynamic energy in the pose and all the obvious things to like about JoAnn's photo, yes; but what I liked most was that their faces are not visible (again, the things NOT seen is the FIGURINES hallmark)  Still, they are so very recognizable.  Initially I thought the details of Rebecca's hair would be most difficult; but Peter's jacket proved most challenging.  There are lots of micro changes in value that were were very hard to organize.  I couldn't go for the half steps and quarter steps in value but I think I did find some way to convey the garment's being made of linen.  I was also very pleased with Rebecca's hand (it is the lynch pin of the thing) It was another one of those very visually detailed situations where only the most spare gestural mark will do the trick (there isn't room for anything else!)  I was also pleased with the bracelet on Rebecca's other hand and the almost translucent hem of her dress.