Today I’ve been working a little more on two portraits. The one of Holly you can see I have refined a little more, but in so doing I have also made her face narrower which isn’t quite right, will have to correct that next session…the portrait of Jeff is coming along, but needs some warm tones on his face, but I cant do that yet, I have to wait a day or two for the bottom layer to dry.I’m trying to show his nature…a bit of an adventurer he is.
Category Archives: oil portraits
An artist can get so caught up in all the periphial stuff that goes with art making…you know, mostly things like marketing the work, pleasing clients, finding galleries, joining artist societies etc etc etc…but when I get a chance to enjoy a solid day of painting…now that is when I most know myself and when I recognize that it’s not about the other stuff, …for me it’s about painting.
My Mother’s Eyes - oil on canvs - 8″ x 6″
Yesterday I attended the Open Studio workshop with the Portrait Society which was held at the studio of the Arts & Letters Club in Toronto. What a fantastic refreshing experience that was!!! Painting with amazing artists and being immersed in that arts environment has left me feeling refreshed and invigorated! I have resolved to attend the next one which is in May as well as the International Portrait Artists Festival which will be held in Toronto for 4 days in December. Below I have posted some little thumbnails of the day and my attempt at painting the model’s portrait…I say attempt because I had major difficulties with getting a likeness, but enjoyed myself non-the-less. I am also posting a new painting ‘Spring Trees’ completed this week.
Spring Trees - oil on canvas - 28″ x 24″
Vladimir - oil on linen - 12″ x 12″
all done my portrait of Jane.
Jane - oil on linen - 12″ x 12″
work in progress - oil on canvas - Janiebear - 12″ x12″
Have been busy today in the studio, managed to get the background hills in my large canvas blocked in, now i need to wait a few days, before I can glaze…i want to glaze it with a blue/violet to read as mysterious evening shadows, but might instead use a blue/green, I’m a little undecided at this point, will wait for a few days and listen for intuitive instructions…will post it after the glaze stage, which should be two stages before completing.
Since I’m unable to go any further on the large painting, I decided to finally start a portrait of my youngest daughter Jane…so started the blocking in this afternoon, and managed to get a few halftones in too…certainly need to refine it some, but I’m pleased with the beginning, and it’s looking like our Janie!..so I’m stoked about the likeness.
I joined this great artists blogging site a few weeks ago. It is called art blogs 4 u , here is the url if you want to go there.
http://artblogs4u.blogspot.com
It is a fun site for artists…a way to see other artists work, and read their blogs. fun!
Chris - oil on canvas 14″ x 14″ click for full view
Finished this portrait last week. It challenged me…I had done a quick oil sketch while he sat for me over the Xmas holidays, but wasn’t satisfied with it…I knew I would be giving it another go when the time was right. It came together throughout January…knowing what I wanted, but having to work out how to get it!
I’m happy because my family all think it is “totally Uncle Chris!”
‘Contemplation’ oil on canvas 14″ x 14″
Woke up to a dusting of snow on the ground and in the trees today. Enjoyed a lazy day of self-indulgence… My dear (middle) daughter Rachel agreed to sit for a portrait today. I was SOOOO excited to get working on one of her; as have wanted to paint her for a while, but you know it’s so hard to pin someone down to the required time for sitting. I put a comfy chair in the studio, set up the lighting, and had her get comfy with her MP3 player. It took me a while to get the blocking in done in a thinned burnt umber…after a 1/2 hour break we were at it again; I was able to model the skin tones, halftones, and the warm and cool areas… We took a long break, then went back for a final 1/2 hour to get the hair and highlights. It is still unfinished, as I want to glaze in some of the deep shadow areas, but have to wait for it to dry to accomplish this….so far so good, it is definately her likeness; though it is her in a pensive mood…I would also like to try one of her in an upbeat mood; as she is such a lovely joyful personality most of the time. maybe next boxing day!
