My Blog List

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Sidesteps Aside


I'm not a sidestepping politician, yet I've been dancing a little sidestep around the portrait I promised to do--first doing the hand study, then doing a close up of the two heads, then getting reacquainted with oils by attempting a portrait of Erin.
I procrastinated again yesterday when I rejected the canvas I had ordered; it was too big. So I went back to working on Erin till I couldn't stand my sidestepping another minute. It was late in the afternoon, but I went to the supply store anyway and bought the appropriate size. By the time I got home, I was out of studio time and excuses, but all set to move ahead in the morning.

This afternoon,the cartoon has been made and is ready for some washes, (yet I sit here sidestepping again). While my get acquainted studies have paid off, I'm still nervous. This is the first portrait I'm doing of children who are not my blood and who have parents who think they are the most precious,most beautiful kids in the world. I do hope I can do these babies with the same feeling of tenderness I have for Erin.

14 comments:

  1. I wish I could do oil portraits so seemingly effortless as you. I am working on one right now, and it is giving me a very hard time, much more difficult for me than watercolor. This one of Erin is really lovely, so sweet...but not finished?

    ReplyDelete
  2. No not finished, but very close Jane. I walked away from it today to get into the double portrait and to give the paint some drying time--enough where it gets tacky; I want to put in spots of pure color. I'm noticing that the amount of thinner-- in the mix is very important.I've been using linseed oil as the wetting agent. Reeves oils seem to be a bit dry. Also I added a fan brush to my tools; it does good things for hair,grass--linear things PLUS, used sideways, you can get a hairline thin line--thinner than those tiny brushes. I really didn't expect Erin to come out as well as it is.

    ReplyDelete
  3. whoa! Just excellent!! You must be happy with Erin's portrait--great job! All the sidestepping reference was something I could relate to. Funny how when we are "told" to do something (commissions) it is such a challenge. Somehow, it seems quite clear once you jump in, you'll "make it happen". Of course, if, for any reason it doesn't happen..it's only paint and you'll regroup. Such is the life of the painter! From what I've seen...you'll "make it happen"!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Linda
    You are a Portrait Artist now, officially in my eyes. This portrait is brilliant. although you say it isn`t copleted, rubbish, it is. I`m having trouble with my new Computer, posting my paintings that is. It`s driving me insane. All the best linda.
    Vic.

    ReplyDelete
  5. You know Celeste, I can't believe I did this--and in a new medium. I never fancied myself a portrait painter--I didn't like the idea of commissioned work--being told what to paint, having to see a person as their loved ones see them--in a flattering light that may or may not be true. I've painted a couple of adults (not counting King Henry VIII), and all their relatives had something nasty to say about the paintings; I just painted what I saw. But I see children differently. I adore them. They are all incredibly beautiful. They are all straight forward with honest views that haven't been distorted by lifetime experiences. The kids on on the canvas and I'm washing in the values with acrylics, but I'm going to do them in oils. I am loving the oil medium--and it did come out of my white turtleneck in the wash without much bother. I was shocked and pleased.I loved that shirt.

    ReplyDelete
  6. OMG Victor--thank you, but a painter only of children. Henry VIII would have shouted off with her head. He was fortunate to have Holbein who was smart enough to flatter his royal subject. Adults like to see themselves in flattering ways and the times I've tried to paint them when I was young and dumb,I failed. I painted who I saw and their relatives didn't see them as I did. The ruckus moved me away from portraiture. I was in my teens.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your sketches are perfect! Enough side-stepping; just sneak up on it, one step at a time.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Linda, you are truly gifted. I realize you aren't finished, but this is looking great. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hey LW --I thought my earlier comment had gone "missing"...pardon my confusion!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love how you draw the faces of the children, and as you give it personality when you paint in oil.

    Just great. Thanks for sharing.

    A big kiss 4 u

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ancalpe you are a ladies man, a charmer! I try with the children.Your photographs of Seville are enticing. They make me want to book a trip tomorrow. You still didn't tell me what camera you favored--nor did you choose to follow me,as I chose to follow you. That was not charming.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Were you able to include in this face all the love and tenderness that only parents can do.
    Beautiful canvas and the drawings in pencil!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Absolutely. I'm Erin's Nana. She's my second granddaughter. But I'm not worried about capturing the sweetness of the two children I've been commissioned to paint; I seem to favor children. They haven't been spoiled yet. They've got a purity that's very appealing.

    ReplyDelete
  14. You are an inspIration. That's all I've got to say except this: if all children are beautiful do you ever wonder where all the ugly people come from? (ok I stole that line).

    ReplyDelete