Cara, Oil on gessoed MDF board, 9 x 12 ins.

I painted this, using my own photo, after watching lessons by Jane French on Domestika.

She uses a direct approach and a square brush technique. I like her paintings because she uses surprising colors on the skin tones, and yet from a distance they meld in beautifully.

I did not achieve the same colors in the skin tones here. That needs another attempt. I’m happy with the brushwork changes I made.

The picture reminds me of a happy conversation on a pleasant evening with friends.

Lesson by Jane French

March 30, 2023March 30, 2023mayhewjnm Leave a comment

The Green Look

March 23, 2023March 22, 2023mayhewjnm 2 Comments

Oil on Canvas Panel 12 x 16 ins

I painted this portrait of my daughter from a photo I took while we were sitting on our deck one sunny lunchtime. I was struck by the lovely green reflection of her shirt in her cheek and chin. It really seemed to jump up there!

Here are some of the steps I took in the painting:

Happy in Greece

March 7, 2023February 28, 2023mayhewjnm 2 Comments

This is my brother!

Last summer I delivered paintings of his wife and his son to them when we visited. He very gently hinted that it might be fitting to have one of himself to go with them.

When I returned home I collected all the photos I had of him and sent him a selection of my favorites as possibilities for painting. We both agreed that this one was our choice. It’s from a vacation in Greece (I didn’t take the photo!).

I liked the warmth and happiness of the photo. It was a full-length shot and the resolution was not very high when I enlarged it, but the expression and the colors were so great I proceeded anyway.

He and I are both pleased with the result and I will deliver it to him in the UK later this year.