...About portrait paintings

What this portrait painting business all about: about?http://online.barrons.com/article/SB50001424052748704854004577052452472848894.html#articleTabs_article%3D1

Paths of Light--oil, 8x10"

Half way (?) done. This painting was in in my exhibit at HPU next to the charcoal and a photo I took during the sitting. Now I need to get back to posting small works.

Susan--charcoal, 16x12"

SOLD

Checkerboard Theater--oil, 7x14"

Empty building in San Angelo, Texas that looks like an old movie theater - not used in decades.

Some of these buildings are more run down than my paintings make them look.

Alamo Door--oil, 10x8"

Step 2

I have painted over the charcoal with a Raw Umber wash. I fixed the charcoal, but it mixed with the paint too much anyway. That's no problem, but next time I'll skip the charcoal shadows, or put it on very lightly.

My tendency is to get too detailed; that's ok for a portrait, but this time I want to emphasize the beauty of her face and the gracefulness of her hand. The colors and the north light will hopefully support this vision.

Step 1

A figure/portrait painting I am starting - I have toned the canvas with Venetian Red. The background will be painted with a bluish green, but the VR will show through in places to harmonize with the same color of wrap she is wearing. This is a 16x20" canvas, I have done this much from a photo, but will try to get the model back to paint from life when I start adding color.

The drawing has been done using the sight-size approach, where the photo is positioned so that it looks the exact same size as the canvas. (the photo is much closer to me - the canvas is across the room and I must walk forward to make a mark each time.) I used vine charcoal and have indicated shadows.

Paseo de Sombra--oil, 6x9"

A smaller version of the previous post - but the main difference is, I did it much more quickly, used thicker paint, and did it on a very smooth surface. My main objective was to simplify and use more opaquely applied pigment.

Paseo de Sombra--oil, 8x10"

Done from a photo I took on the San Antonio River. You can see through the trees that the sun in shining, but here there is a tree canopy of shade. I tried to make the colors sort of jewel-like and glowing.

Houston Street Wall--pastel, 5x7"

The colors, light, shadows, and arrangement of elements in this scene made it irresistible to paint.

SOLD

Pig Stand--oil, 10x8"

My parents met in 1934 at another Pig Stand in San Antonio. He was a cook and she was a car hop.

Top of Stephenville Courthouse--oil, 10x8"

Step 3

Step 2 looked almost identical to step 1. I just put a few more darks in.

This is after the first live painting session. I feel rusty, out of practice, which I am. When I think about how many hours a serious piano student practices per week, or violinist, even as a child (or consider a professional athlete), well no wonder I feel this way and have many missteps.

I can correct some things working from my photograph, and I hope to have another session with the model. It would be best if I didn't use the photo this time, tho. Painting from life always yields better results, if you can get time with the same model and the same pose. This represents 2+ hours.

Storefronts--oil, 9x20"

Another small town scene. Someone went to some trouble to fix this building up, though some of the shops are unoccupied.

Step 1--oil, 24x18"

I've toned the canvas ultramarine blue and drawn and blocked in the shadows, working from my photograph. I don't want to go very far until I get the model in front of me. It's going to be almost a portrait, but in the pose I have tried to find an interesting look or angle.

Exposed Wall--pastel, 5.5x12"

I couldn't think of a better title. Done mostly en plein air (on site). The building to the left of the doors seems to be all boarded up. I sat across the street on a sidewalk that rarely gets any foot traffic. It looks like a beautiful old survivor that is in good condition. Maybe someone will turn it into something. An ice cream parlor sounds good today.

Color study 2 - added some color. This is 6x4".

Beginning of a small color study for a figure/portrait painting I am starting. This will be done or at least started before the previous one while I have the model available.

Color Study - I don't have a title for this painting yet, this is a small color sketch. I decided not to do it so big, I'm preparing a birch panel that is 9x20"