Life Portrait and Toulouse Lautrec

Meghan / oil on linen / 12 x 12

Meghan, with her rosy cheeks, strong chin, silver earrings and dimpled smile, posed for our portrait session. I painted her on a linen panel as I have all but abandoned working on corrugated cardboard during the life sessions. I am dismayed by the ridges that are apparent in cardboard due to the underlying corrugation. Even with several coats of gesso on the surface, these ridge lines remain prominent. For  quick practice, I may still use cardboard, but now that I am gaining more confidence in painting from life, I want a more professional looking surface - just in case the painting turns out decently! I wish I could find a stiff cardboard support that is non corrugated but have not been able to after multiple internet searches.  Both Degas and Lautrec used cardboard supports - often unprimed - for oil painting. I do love how the surface grabs the paint and is absorbent and  wish I could find the kind of flat, smooth cardboard that they used.

Toulouse Lautrec / Alfred la Guigne  / oil on cardboard

This painting, at the National Gallery of Art, is done on cardboard and Lautrec left the entire jacket of Alfred unpainted, using the pre-exisiting color of the support as the color of the suit.

Toulouse Lautrec/ Rue des Moulins

 Another Lautrec masterpiece painted in thin oil paint on cardboard. And close ups of the extraordinary faces on the women. I fell in love with these faces.

 After seeing a room full of Toulouse Lautrec paintings, he remains one of my favorite artists. I am in awe at the honesty with which he painted.

Lautrec gallery at the National Gallery  of Art in Washington DC

Life Class Oil Portrait

I struggled in life portrait class today. I like the upper half of Ron's face but the value structure in the neck and lower jaw eluded me. I need much much more practise in observing from life and interpreting observation into color and value. The instructor Alison Harris advises me to push my darks and I quite agree with her. I actually felt more comfortable painting today than I have in along time so there is hope yet! And I am quite happy with the likeness as well. No class next week because of the holiday and then figure drawing the following week. I can't wait!