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| Owen / oil on gessoed cardboard / 12.5 x 14 |
Young Owen was a superb model in our open portrait session this morning. I don't think he even blinked his eyes the entire time - he was perfectly still giving the artists no excuses at all for not painting him well! And, at the end of the day, the room was filled with incredible portraits - some in charcoal, some pastel, others in watercolor and one or two in oil. It was a delightful morning and I came away feeling I had learned a lot.
Recently, the Reno Portrait Society asked me to exhibit a drawing I did in January of the owner of a local restaurant. They are doing a show in April centered around the 88 year history of the building where the restaurant is now located. The drawing is in graphite with white charcoal highlights on tan toned paper and it framed up fairly well.
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| The Restaurateur / graphite and white charcoal on paper / 11 x 14 |
Thanks to all for stopping by and leaving a comment on my blog. Your comments make it all worthwhile!
Bravo Buddy! Good for you! Glad to see you great well deserved recognition!
ReplyDeleteLove "Owen!" Great work! All your great work certainly has so much of you in them. Yippee for us!
Hey Susan, I am starting a portrait class at MFA in a couple of weeks. Haven't done portraits in years. You have inspired and motivated me! Wish me well!
Michael
I know you will love it, Michael. I think painting portraits from life may be the most difficult thing I have tackled but it sure is a lot of fun! I have no doubt you will paint some amazing pieces!
DeleteLove all the colors you put into a portrait, Susan. This is beautifully painted!.
ReplyDeleteThe best of luck exhibiting your portrait.. such an honor...well deserved!!!!
Thank you, Hilda. The color in his face was fascinating to me. I was situated on the side that was almost completely in shadow and at first I felt a bit intimidated but kept repeating to myself "don't be afraid of the darks". It was a challenge!
DeleteBonjour ma chère Susan,
ReplyDeleteLe bonheur de peindre que dégage ce portrait est bien présent. Comment expliquer ce que je ressens ?! Ta palette avec la richesse de tes couleurs qui te sont propres et ton style, ton écriture, il est presque naturel et spontané et à la fois magique d'admirer chacune de tes oeuvres. Tu réussis si magnifiquement là où tu veux aller... Je te sens heureuse et tu le communique bien.
Bravo pour ces deux jolis portraits.
Gros bisous
I truly love reading your words, MartineAlsion, and I thank you for them. One of the things I love most about painting from life trying to interpret the color I see and translate it into color on the canvas and have it all make sense.
DeleteYour life studies are just that - full of life! Really wonderful :0)
ReplyDeleteWow- thank you so much. As with the graphite sketches I had been doing, now that my nerves have settled down a bit, I am still trying to express a little more about the model than what appears in front of my eyes. It is so hard to put into words but I am sure you know what I mean. In addition to a good likeness and believable color and energetic brushwork, there must be a sensitivity to the human being who is sitting there. As I progress in confidence and boldness, that is the direction I hope my painting will take.
DeleteVERY striking portrait [of Owen], Susan! I love the muted colors, and the strong definition you gave his features.
ReplyDeleteYour restauranteur portrait is superb. I am so happy to read that you are both getting well-deserved recognition!!!
Kathryn XX
Many thanks, Kathryn - and congratulations on your recent sale! That watercolor is downright wonderful!
DeleteDoes powerful and sensitive go together because that is what I get from your painting of Owen. Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI remember the sketch and liked it a lot - congratulations Susan.
Oh, those words make my heart song, Julie - powerful and sensitive - now that is getting to the heart of the matter! Many, many thanks!
DeleteProficiat Susan, beide werken zijn heel mooi.
ReplyDeleteIn het kader is het perfect voorgesteld.
groetjes,
Simonne
Thank you, Simmone. I always like seeing work framed up - it kind of makes it complete.
DeleteYou certainly painted him well Susan, gorgeous portrait, really like the colors you use for the shadowing. Wish you all the best for the exhibition !
ReplyDeleteAs he was in total shadow, I found it a challenge. Thank you, Jane.
DeleteOwen is amazing, so live and intense and still, I see how he wants to do his best in modelling. And colors. Please keep going.
ReplyDeleteToo much of me today, sorry.
Not too much - I appreciate you flurry of comments, Irina. I am so thrilled that you are doing life drawing now -I know you will love it!
DeleteI do love it! And I see my progress, and I realize what a miracle human body is.
DeleteI see your progress too - you are doing so beautifully! And in such a short time!
DeleteExcelentes trabalhos....
ReplyDeleteCumprimentos
I had a wonderful time catching up with your blog, Susan! So nice to see a ballerina again, and two of them even going to San Diego, congratulations! Your portraits are fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI greatly appreciate your stopping by - I am excited about the San Diego show, I must admit! :)
DeleteThank you, Chana.
ReplyDelete