Portrait Practice

Four quick oil portrait sketches - practicing skin tones and trying hard to capture, age, expression and character. Quite a challenge!

Making maximum use of my painting support!

A closer look at the female sketch as I was happier with this one.

12 x 16 oil on linen

8 x 10 oil on corrugated cardboard

 

My husband and I just got back from a short trip to Palo Alto, California, where we were lucky enough to visit the Cantor Museum of Art on the campus of Stanford University. This is our third trip there and on this visit I fell in love with a Picasso oil portrait (also done on cardboard titled Courtesan with Hat from 1900). She was so lovely that I spent a long time admiring her beauty and the absolute elegance of the execution of this little masterpiece. What a joy to see it!

Courtesan with Hat oil on cardboard Picasso 1900

 In certain areas of this painting you can see the original brown cardboard peeking through and I found myself wondering if Picasso (and others like Toulouse Lautrec and Degas who also painted on cardboard) used any kind of sealant. I searched the internet and could not find out what their techniques may have been other than the use of oil paint thinned with mineral spirits. The information that I did find recommended using either gesso or PVA glue to seal the cardboard prior to painting to decrease absorbency and prevent warping. I wonder if anyone else has experience using cardboard as an oil painting support?
 

This and That

Portrait Sketch / 10x8 / oil linen panel

First portrait of the new year - done from a photo.

Untitled / 24x20 / oil canvas panel

 And a larger oil done last year. I am still struggling for a an appropriate title for this one! A close up of her face gives an indication of her demeanor and hints at a good title. I just have not discovered it yet!

The Reinert Gallery was kind enough to frame the paintings I sent to them and send me these two photos - you can see that they are safely guarded by the ferocious gallery guard dog!

My husband and I spent Christmas in Las Vegas in December as neither of our children could make it home for the holidays. It was very cold and even snowed a little bit on one frigid, windy day! But we braved the chill and drove to Red Rock Canyon, which is only about 20 miles outside of the city. It was so unique and so beautiful! Here are some photos:

 

Hope everyone is having a great beginning to this New Year and that it is proving to be filled with creativity and accomplishment!