Tag Portrait

Live Portrait Group in PA, I

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During our fall stay in PA, I went to a couple of two hour live portrait sessions at a local art center. On one occasion we painted a class member and on the other, a veteran. There were 6-8 artists present, using a variety of media.

On the first session I attended we painted a class member. I started in charcoal, and was pleased to find I could make a decent likeness in about half an hour.

Charcoal on toned gray paper, 5.5 x 8.5 in

Then I painted the sitter again using a very limited palette of oil paints. This was yellow ochre, cadmium red, ivory black, titanium white and transparent red oxide (a modifed version of the palette used by Swedish master artist Anders Zorn).

Oil Paint on canvas, 6 x 7.75 in

I started with a very rough block-in, then painted all the shadows with transparent red oxide for the face and ivory black for the clothing. I found the limited number of colors easier to manage and mix.

I was very happy with the glow that the red oxide gave to the face. The other class members had useful comments to make about my efforts and said I’d captured his likeness exactly. It was all very enjoyable and satisfying.

Master Copy III

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A copy of part of a portrait painting by Philip de Laszlo of the Princess Elizabeth, oil, 12 x 12 ins.

I painted this Master copy earlier this year, in a lesson with my teacher, Kari Rajkumar. I chose the portrait out of several she showed me because of my Britishness and my interest in painting children.

There are so many lovely colors in her skin! I really enjoyed trying to match them. I have focused since on understanding the warm and cool colors in skin, and I think I’ve gained some ground.

Inspection

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Oil on canvas panel, 12 x 16

One of my grandaughters asked me to sew a pink fleece bunting for her doll, after I had made a purple one for her sister’s doll. I made it and sent it to her and this painting is based on the photo that her mother took for me.

I like the look of quiet concentration as she inspects it. I enjoyed working with the soft and muted colors and using a palette knife for her hair.

2nd Place in Juried Show.

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My painting of my grandson, titled ‘Happy’, was awarded 2nd place in Painting at the River City Art Association Annual Juried Show! This is the third year I have entered paintings, but the first time I’ve been able to attend the Opening and Awards ceremony. It was exciting and I was delighted!

The Show is up for the month of August at the First Financial Bank, 6th Street, Terre Haute, IN. The award winners will be moved to the Springhill Branch for the month of September.

Time of Reflection

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12 x 16, oil

This is a family member, from a photo I took several years ago. She is an elegant, well-dressed person and I feel I captured that look. However, the colors didn’t seem right until I glazed her facial shadows with what seemed like outrageous yellows and oranges and suddenly it came to life!

Master Copy II

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Copy of a painting by a Master, oil, 12 x 12 ins

This is another painting completed in a series of lessons with Kari Rajkumar. The original is a self-portrait by John Singleton Copley, a famous and well-established Colonial artist, who moved to London in 1774. I’m afraid I made him look slightly chubbier in the cheeks than he painted himself, but the process was absorbing and instructive.

Primary Earth Boy

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Boy, Oil, 12 x 16

This is the third time I have painted this portrait. I tried one in Acrylic layers, one in oil and now this second try in oil. I’m glad I persisted as I like this one best! I have been working on more accurate color checking and subtleties of changes in value and temperature.

Acrylic, 12 x 16, June 2020. Painted in very thin layers of acrylic paint with matte medium.
Oil, 12 x 16, October 2020. Maybe I didn’t quite finish it (as I notice now that the EARTH on his shirt is not completed). Probably that’s because I was not pleased with it.

Swope Art Museum Juried Exhibition 2020

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This was exciting! My painting ‘All In It Together’ was selected to be part of this year’s juried Exhibition at the Swope Art Museum in Terre Haute, www.swope.org.

The show is open to artists in Indiana and the surrounding states of Illinois, Michigan, Kentucky and Ohio. Out of over 400 entries 76 were selected for display. I was delighted to be included!

We went along to view the Exhibition today. It was great to see all the paintings and sculptures in reality. It was inspiring!

Fleeting Youth

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Acrylic, 12 x 16 ins

I painted this using the acrylic glazing method-many very thin layers so that the color gradually builds up. The background and much of the hair was painted with thicker, opaque layers.

She is moving fast, enjoying the bright sunshine and outdoor activity. Just like her movement, her youth will seem to have flown by so fast. One flash and she’ll be grown up!