A Character Portrait in Oil Finished for Today

"Yes, Mr. Selznick!!"

(Miss Poppenghul, aka Jessica Leatherman)

9" x 12"

oil on canvasboard

Finished this one and I must say, 

and it turned out JUST the way

I wanted it to.  This is my daughter.

She played this part in the play "Moonlight and Magnolias" 

presented by Open Stage in 

Fort Collins in March of this year.

Thanks for stopping by!!!

A Portrait in Oil for Today

"Mile Marker 37"

6" x 6"

oil on canvasboard

Practicing portraits these past few days.  Love painting people in glasses and sunglasses 

and I liked the sunglasses on my daughter in the photo I used to paint from. 

She took that photo when she was on her way across Kansas a few years back.  

Lots of morning rain today - we will take it!

But we aren't too fond of the biting flies and mosquitoes that show up

afterwards in the mugginess.

Drat!

P.S. - Oh to be blind - now that I look at it, there are some 
glaring (to me) fixes I need to make, tomorrow.

Portrait Practice

Portrait practice today in oil 

on a 6" x 8" canvasboard.

Wet paint shine on the left...oh well.

I bet I painted those eyes - 4 times..finally gave up.

Painting for Today

"Just Another Sunny Day"

6" x 6"

oil on Raymar plein air board

Wishful thinking....

More Progress on "Red Mischief"

I said I would change the mouth on the little red-headed Russy, well, I kept working and working and before you know it I had repainted the face, hands and hair.  I stopped and put it aside as finished.

"Happy Birthday to YOU!"

Today is my daughter's birthday!  We live far apart.  I wanted to celebrate her day by painting a portrait (often used subject matter) of her.  Found this cool photo of her and my granddaughter catching some sun on a cruise they were on with her husband's family a year ago in November.  I have one more thing to add, my granddaughter was wearing a MardiGras type necklace that was wrapped up over her arm but in talking with her today, we decided it's not important. Decided to let the canvas dry a little to add that.  So Happy Birthday - Jessica!  May the sun shine bright on your day!

"Sungirls"

6" x 8"

oil on Raymar canvasboard

Portrait for a Couple of Days

"Red Mischief"

9" x 12"

oil on gessoed board

I saw this photo on the internet and wrote to ask permission to use it. I think redheads are such good portraiture material.  Under the skin - is a transparent blue-ish tone when in light.  This nephew, Russy, of another artist, Diane Hoeptner (hep-ner) and his pose were just what was needed on the easel these last three days.  I have another portrait completed that I will post on Friday.  Wow - working on two at once has it's challenges - I think the big thing about it is, I just didn't get too wrapped up in it - could stay loose and move on - going back and forth between them.  At least that is my experience and process for the last three days.  May have to try that one again. 

A Portrait for Today and Yesterday

"Scott"

6" x 6"

oil paint on canvasboard

I have painted most of my immediate family and realized I needed to try this portrait from a photo again.  I had painted it another time, only to struggle with it and wipe it off a couple of times. I am in that mood where I want to revisit a challenge I had this past year - just to show myself it is sometimes about the day, my mood, and mainly it is about the drawing and the inspiration that comes from getting the drawing right.  Does that ever happen to you?

 Started yesterday.  Brought it in from the studio to evaluate it last night. I set it up right in sight of what I am doing and do a self critique for the rest of the night.  Upon returning to the studio today, first thing I did was turn the painting and the photo upside down.  It helped tremendously.  You stop seeing and worrying about the features and definitely see the shapes, contours and values.

This is my brother, Scott.  He had an animated smile on his face in the photo taken a few years back at a restaurant we visited - I took the animation down a notch.  When we are together we have so many good laughs.  He is one of the kindest and most thoughtful people I know. 

A Portrait for Today

"Ana" - 12" x 12" on gallery wrapped canvas, original oil

This is my daughter's friend's little girl. She lives in Idaho. Just this past year, my daughter and her friend found each other, after those years of college,

travel, life somewhere else and being out of touch.

I wrestled with a different portrait in my class for awhile, then wiped it out, started this one and I am pleased with the results, which is every artists' goal, right? 'Painterly' with loose brush strokes, all the way!