An Oliver Portrait

Oliver 16 x 20 Oil on canvas

My latest portrait, Oliver with a favorite book, is a companion piece to the one I recently did of Clara. I again used a chinoiserie wallpaper to introduce pattern and color to the background. I think this gives an otherwise classic composition a more modern feel.

My new painting of Clara

Clara 16x20 Oil on Canvas

I wanted to do a painting that was foremost a figurative piece and not a traditional portrait. I wanted it to tell a story with universal appeal. Clara was my model along with one of her stuffed bears. I tried to capture something timeless in her pose and clothing but kept it current through my use of color.

The Sister's Portrait

Dressing Up 20X30 Oil on Linen

My nieces, Maya and Peri, are the subject of my newest portrait. They love to dress-up and I was inspired by a visit they paid us last spring where they dressed up with my daughter and played princesses. The painting was given to them for their 6th birthday (although it was a little belated!) My birthday wish for them is that they continue to play make-believe for years to come and never forget they are princesses!

The Self Portrait

Self Portrait 16 x 20 oil on canvas

I decided to create a self portrait because I thought it would be a good painting exercise. I never imagined it would be quite so difficult. It is interesting to really try to perceive ones self as others may see us. This is not something to which I usually give a lot of thought. I have wondered why during the course of most artist's lives they only do one or two self portraits (if any at all.) Now I think I understand. I will not do another self portrait for a long while... maybe when I am seventy!

Avery the Archer

Avery 24 x 30 oil on canvas

Avery was posed holding a bow at the archery range for this portrait. Three arrows are stuck in the back stop. The back stop is a wall made up of cardboard sheets laid one on top of each other on their sides. The texture of this surface in combination with the particle board wall beside it were challenging but very fun to paint. I like the casual feel of both the the pose and the location.

Oliver's Portrait

Oliver 24x30 oil on canvas

Working from photo references of last summer's corn harvest I painted Oliver outside in a cornfield for his portrait. I took some artistic license and replaced the plastic Rubbermaid ice chest upon which he was seated with a vintage one. The full sun lighting presented a different challenge then the interior portrait did. I wanted to capture the dramatic lighting without areas feeling "washed out."

On this painting I used a traditional canvas instead of an ultra-smooth finish. There was a recognizable difference and I will return to using smoother surfaces on the portraits to follow.

The Young Artist Portrait

Young Artist 24x30 Oil on canvas

My daughter Clara loves to draw. I choose to paint her at the kitchen table with a marker in hand as I often find her. I began by taking a reference photo and then did a charcoal study drawing ( picture below.) I used an ultra smooth primed canvas. A smooth surface works better with the glazing techniques that I use. I painted a grisaille (under painting) in burnt sienna onto the canvas. I then used glazes followed by scumbling and some areas of wet on wet painting. My latest discovery that I will use on every painting hereafter is a modern Maroger medium! It is a glazing medium that adds a luminosity to the paint. I mixed a little bit in my thicker paint as well to create a paste so that the entire painting would have the same luminous appearance as the glazed areas.

reference photo and charcoal study - The final painting is slightly different. I removed some of the items on the wall and shortened Clara's hair to reflect a recent haircut.

the grisaille above was painted on the canvas in burnt sienna.