2016 Self Portrait - "My Painting Face"

Well I got a lot of flack about this one, mainly from family. I worked on it again this morning but in a wonderful sun lit room and the feeling is not as ominous. Yesterday was unusually overcast and gray.

I started painting at 6:15 a.m. when my hubbie got up to get ready for work. I thought I would try and paint early as I was finding my days were filled with other things and painting just didn't get high on the list. 

A scary view at 6:15 a.m.! With a mirror on my easel, my critical brain kept reacting to what I was seeing but I just kept painting anyways. When my stomach rumbled it was time to be done. The printing on the side reads "I put on my painting face...It can take the internal and external criticism."

My 2015 self portrait is here and 2014 selfie.

"My Painting Face"

10" x 8" Oil on canvas panel

#20029416  Not For Sale

Friday at the Sicamous Red Barn

I happily joined the artists from the Brush and Palette Club in Sicamous for their weekly art time. The challenge was to draw a person's face from a magazine UPSIDE DOWN. We were shown the example in "Drawing From the Right Side Of The Brain" art book and then tried it out.

It may seem funny that as an artist, I don't like to draw, I like to paint! This was a wonderful exercise for me as just looking at the lines and shapes of the face upside down seemed to shut my critical brain down and it was just an enjoyable experience. I was really happy and surprised at the result when I finished and turned the picture and my drawing right side up, it was a lot better than I could of done right side up! I did not get the second one finished but the result was still recognizable.

Zhaoming Wu Workshop - Portrait

Oil on canvas board

16" x 20"

an unfinished portrait

This is the portrait that I did in a FCA Zhaoming Wu workshop held in Calgary, Alberta. Zhaoming is a master painter and it was an absolute thrill that I was not only able to watch him paint live, but also receive instruction during this 3 day workshop.

He painted the live model portrait in the morning, explaining his steps and then the artists painted in the afternoon. There were 2 models and the artists were in a semi circle painting so each view was different. It is incredibly hard for the model to be still and try and stay in the same position, that is why the look on her face is somber.

I found it really challenging to paint the portrait with her head view changing after each break. Even a few inches made a difference in whether you could see her far cheek and how much of her nose compared to cheek etc. that could be seen. Zhaoming helped me with her nose and that put it together so much nicer...a few strokes was all he needed to add where I probably would of still been trying. I was happy and exhausted at the end of the day! 

Self portrait #2

After having one class on a self portrait with Ingrid. I decided to start fresh on my own at home, where I wasn't distracted with the beautiful art coming alive all around me in the class. I also thought I would take a few more pictures of how the painting developed for my own reference later. What I found interesting is how focused and concentrating my facial features were. This apparently was serious business in both self portraits!

This is the underpainting where I am trying to place all the features as well as get the size and placement correct. I toned the canvas first with a warm golden yellow.

The painting is now at mid completion. I have also worked on the background and am quite happy with how it is at this point. Will post the final product at a later date when I get time to work on it again. The good news, the subject is always close at hand!

First Portrait in Ingrid's Class

I went to the previous class and stayed for the demo only as I wasn't feeling well. This week I was able to try my first portrait (between coughing fits). It seemed like a daunting task but Ingrid's demo gave us a starting point. Again it is not finished, but I felt it did look like the subject. I am pleased with the result within the time limit of the class after the demo.

This is my view of my easel and our model behind. This painting was painted in oil on a 12" x 16" canvas board. I am not going to wipe this one off, but keep it to check my skills the next time I do a portrait. I wish I had asked to take a picture so I could of worked on it at home. Working from a picture is certainly different from working with a live model!

First Animal Portrait - a heartfelt gift

"Buddy" Water colour on 140lb paper 10.5" x 14"

I watched and did a "paint-a-long" to Pat Weaver's "Animal portraits in watermedia" of my Mom's dog "Buddy". I was really happy with the way this water colour pet portrait turned out. I brought it to my class for background ideas as I had a pale yellow-orange background and was not happy with it. I pulled and added the same colour from the collar into the background which gave the dog more definition. Buddy is a wonderful friend to my Mom and really the whole family. I have matted this picture to 16 x 20 and will deliver it the next time I go to B.C. Love you Mom!