'Sisters' Painting

I sometimes like to look to old photos for inspiration and design possibilities. The photos that I use, for the most part, have been in my family for generations, including images from the time of my great, and great-great grandparents. Most times, I change elements in the photo to meet the needs of the painting - the color is invented. I had a feeling of warm light hitting these figures directly and giving an abstract, unified, shape to their clothing. Likewise, the light areas combine to flat, simple shapes which interlock with the darks for a flat, almost puzzle-like quality.