Tag Archives: portrait

One study down and ninety-nine to go!

At our recent workshop, Marc Hanson suggested we do a quick painting a day for 100 days and we would see a big improvement in our skills.  Number small panels 1 to 100 and put each away as it’s finished,  When you’re done with all of them, line ’em up in order and you’ll be surprised at what you’ve learned and how much better you’ve become.  And start the next 100.

I’ve started the process.  ‘Quasi-daily’ painting also ought to produce good change, right??

Here’s #1 — based on a reference photo I took on a hot summer day by the Potomac River bridge (new +  old fragments) at Shepherdstown, WV.  In the noonday sun, folks were swimming and kayaking on the still water and walking their dogs in the rocky shallows.  My hubby and I were enjoying the cool shadowed woods along the bank.  Heaven.  The painting is too busy — should have simplified more, but it does ‘bring me back’!

Study #1, Potomac at Shepherdstown. Oil on Paper. 8×10. 2018.

The reference.

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Painting Without Pressure

Over the last few weeks I’ve been working on portraits of my three grandchildren — a task much less ‘fraught’ than the commissioned portrait I showed you last time.  Here’s the one that’s farthest along, after about eight hours of work.  I see lots of ‘issues’ still to be resolved, but it’s in a much better place than the other one ever reached.  Can’t wait to see how it turns out!

Four Months. Oil on Linen. 9 x 12. 2018.

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Performance Anxiety in a Portrait Painter!

I spent a helluva lot of hours on this grandmother/grandson portrait.  It took me over a year and a half(!!) — though most of that time was spent dreading painting, rather than putting brush to linen.  It was commissioned by a friend and based on her photos from years earlier, rather than observation — never a great thing.

Grandmother and grandson, with hydrangeas. Oil on linen.

My next post will show a portrait that I did in a weekend  ~~ things work (and look) much better without anxiety!

Latest Works ~~ Most Special Dad

It’s football season and while watching games with my husband I often doodle on the iPad. I’m making some pictures to sell as prints during an exhibit this January. Here’s one that’s more personal, in honor of my Dad who passed away in August 2016. It includes comments from his last few weeks of life.

R.I.P. Original iPad art. 4×5 aspect ratio. 2017

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Now Here’s One I Love!

My sweet hubby, busy reading the Saturday papers. A new ArtRage/iPad painting, done freehand, based on a reference photo I made of him some time ago. This one was done using only the watercolor tool, over a light pencil sketch on the bottom layer.

reading the Saturday Post

Pat, reading the Post on a Saturday, with coffee.

Gouache of Grandboy

I’ve been pondering making a series of gouaches about my family. As the ‘About’ section suggests, there is LOTS of material. My husband and I will head to California soon to help celebrate our grandson’s first birthday. So I decided to make Family No. 1 a study of Max on his original ‘birth day’.

Family No. 1 (Max, Day 1). Gouache on paper.

Extra Special Appreciation for My First Painting Teacher, Otari Shiuk

First Nature Morte

The First Nature Morte I Attempted

In my thirties, while still practicing law, I learned of an emigre from Soviet Georgia who painted with lush color and vigorous line, and lived in a nearby suburb. Most of my prior artwork had been black line-drawings. Color terrified me, but I felt I needed to try it. Through a mutual friend, I arranged Saturday morning oil lessons with Otari Shiuk (short for Shiukishvili).

He couldn’t speak English and of course I couldn’t speak Russian, but we could communicate a smidge. Me, timidly, pointing at one of his portraits: “I want to paint portraits”. Him, with utter incredulity: “Must crawl before run! Nature morte!!”

My least favorite thing at the time was still life, but I was in no position to object. He set up a simple tableau on his back porch: a dark red apple, a deep purple eggplant and a brown pottery pitcher, all on a reflective white porcelain table backed by a white handkerchief, hanging sail-like from a red brick wall.

He gestured that I should paint it. I’ll continue the tale next time — but I’m sure you can imagine the ensuing scene without much more explanation! By the way, the picture above is a poor crop from an out-of-focus photo. Will try to do a better one later.

A Portrait of My Aunt Pleases Her

She Likes the Portrait!  Whew!

And now for the last item of the night ~~ the portrait is unveiled!

My Louisiana-based cousins had a grand family reunion recently. As the final ‘reveal’ of the night, my aunt was given a portrait that I’d done of her, based on some reference photos I’d taken of her this past July 4th.

It was a joy to see the smile on her face and I’m so happy I could get the painting finished, stretched and shipped to her family before the big day.

Exhibit #2: Drawings of “Mom Mom”

This past weekend two of my drawings were in the ‘First Annual Yellow Barn Drawing Exhibition’. Each member of the Yellow Barn was allowed to enter up to three drawings. No paintings allowed this time around.

With some trepidation over sensitivity and propriety, but with my husband’s blessing, I submitted two drawings I had made of his mother toward the end of her battle with cancer. I thought her patience and tranquility in the face of final illness were admirable and moving. We were blessed to host her in her last days.

Mom Mom knew I was making drawings of her, and occasionally peeked over at my progress before carefully resuming her position. She was satisfied with the results of our collaboration. I think she appreciated a record of her stoic suffering.

MomMom Resting, bic pen on paper

MomMom with Red Purse, bic pen on paper

I’ve been busy and shy

I’m still reluctant to put that toe in the water, but my recent classes at The Yellow Barn in Bethesda are encouraging me to put myself out there a bit more. I’m currently in my first ever exhibit — a student show in the Popcorn Gallery at Glen Echo Park.

Here is the first of my two pieces:

Jackie & Denim

One fine afternoon at MakePiece. Oil.