Tuesday Painting Class

These painters are finally getting gutsy and loading up their brushes with paint- and that makes all the difference! This week we painted a landscape with a beautiful peach colored sky. It had a split complementary color scheme so it was a bit more complicated than anything we've done before, but everyone handled it pretty well. Keep in mind that this is class number six for many of them, but also there are a couple of first time painters here.

The Matriarch of the Family

I urge people to take many photos of their loved ones. Good photos are essential if you want to commission a posthumous portrait. This applies to dogs as well as humans. I've had to turn many people down because they didn't have a decent reference. Photos taken out side in the shade are the absolute best.

Sometimes I'll try a flash photo if the subject is especially interesting and that's how I came to paint Molly's grandmother, the matriarch of their family. The reference looked like it was taken in a dark reception hall but the contours of the subject's face were pretty clear so I thought I might be able to pull it off. I was pleased with the way the portrait came together.

The Matriarch 11" x 14" 

Oil on linen

Week Five of Our Painting Class

I've been leading some painting classes on Tuesday nights and last week we painted a rooster. To everyone's surprise, including my own, it was an easy piece. All bright colors, mostly primary, and keeping an eye out for the major value change on the bird's neck.

Traditional Syrian

Another fine model from our weekly portrait group. The handsome young man is Syrian and is dressed in a ceremonial Syrian style of dress. The scarf was his grandfather's. Youssef is thankful to be living in the United States. He has many family members whose lives have been destroyed by the warring factions in Syria.

This is that rare portrait that I an happy with after one pose and feel nothing else needs to be done to it.

Youssef 

9" x 12" oil on panel

Rango- an Aussie mix

Rango - 11" x 14" oil on linen

An unusual view for a dog portrait but I loved the expression in the reference photo provided by the client. He is a rescue dog- an Aussie mix and very intelligent.

Happy Valentine's Day

I held a painting class for my church last night and I kept the subject simple, yet related it to the theme of the evening: Valentine's Day. The class ranged in age from 11 to 70, but everyone did a nice job.

This is acrylics, which dry quicker than oils, but are not quite as flexible. And I never fail to end up with paint on myself when I use acrylics.

This time I ruined a sweater. sigh.

12" x 12"

Acrylic on Canvas

Impressionism in the Still Life

A small piece forces the artist to condense her thinking and her brush strokes. I love how this turned out.

6" x 8"

oil on panel