Danielle Seated

Danielle Seated

12" X 16"

Oil on Canvas

2014

This 3 Hr. life study was painted on an untoned canvas. Typically I enjoy working on a toned canvas while doing studies like this from life as they afford some forgiveness in terms of coverage. 

When working on such a stark surface you have to work a bit more diligently to make sure that the paint connects so that bright canvas gaps don't show up in-between strokes that have been laid down. To accommodate for this I usually load the brush full of paint while attempting to describe forms with as few strokes as possible. 

This approach to painting is called 'economy of means' by many, and more than a few of my favorite artists worked in this manner. There is kind of elegant simplicity to it when thing work out well.

Camille Seated

Camille Seated

12" X 16"

Oil on Canvas

2014

This is a four hour Alla Prima painting from life completed last year at Angels Gate. I used quite a few very large brushes throughout the painting. Especially in the background. Using these can be a bit tricky sometime as it is a very simple thing to ruin prior carefully laid in strokes.

Untitled #202

Untitled #202

12" X 16"

Oil on Canvas

2013

Studio 117B in San Gabriel, CA. has workshops on Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons that feature models in long poses. This portrait is from one of those sessions and was completed in nearly four hours.

Garrett; the facilitator of the studio - is a smart, generous, and all around great guy who has gone to considerable length in creating a wonderful studio set-up for visiting artists.

Sara Streeter Portrait

Sara Streeter Portrait

14" X 18"

Oil on Canvas

2014

This portrait of Sara Streeter will be a part of a group gallery show on display at the Angels Gate Cultural Center February 8 - March 27, 2015. It was completed Alla-Prima from life in about 4 hours last fall. 

She modeled on her birthday, on a Saturday morning, and stood for a four hour pose. The woman is a pro.

Untitled #176

Untitled #176

16" X 20"

Oil on Canvas

2013

This painting was completed Alla-Prima in about four hours. I typically don't use such a warm ground underneath the work, but I like the way it worked out here. It brings out the neutral blue used in the surrounding background nicely.  

My working method is pretty evident in the way I handled the subjects left ear. It's merely suggested with a couple of blunt strokes. Although I was quite suggestive in this way, I was careful to check the drawing of this painting in a mirror several times during the working session. Straight on views of the head can easily go askew if attention to bi-symmetry isn't given careful consideration. 

Untitled #183

Untitled #183

12" X 16"

Oil on Canvas

2013

This painting from life was a 3 hour pose completed at a Catalyst workshop in Westminster, CA. The profile is typically thee most graphic of all portrait positions. It lends itself well to an angular way of working. 

The "knickerbocker" canvas manufactured by Fredrix is a good surface to work on in terms of it's ability to preserve sharp edges. Granted a lot of canvas surfaces do this well, but the thing I was most impressed with was that the paint sinks in just enough while working Alla-Prima so that you don't encounter any kind of significant "railing" on either side of a moderately loaded brush.