In Honor of Joan

In Honor of Joan, 1981 oil pastel by R.C. Gorman, honors a figure in seated repose with subtle sensuality and chromatic warmth. The woman sits in profile and three-quarter view, her form draped in a garment that transitions from coral-orange to buttery yellow to soft mauve—a sophisticated color harmony rendered in Gorman’s signature oil pastel technique. Her simple pose conveys introspection and grace, feet bare and body relaxed. The minimal white background emphasizes her form and the luminous quality of the pastel pigments blending on paper. Gorman’s tender approach to portraiture shines through in the sensitive modeling of her face and the delicate interplay of warm and cool tones across her garment. An intimate work suited to collectors of figurative pastels, color studies, and Gorman’s personal commemorative pieces.