With a Beard

11 x 14

I think I will go shave now.

Ed in the Hat

11" x 14" Oil on Linen

Not for sale.

A great photo from what must have been a fantastic trip to Spain was the source for this painting. Thanks to Bob for the use of the image. I painted Ed with a bit of exaggeration that is not quite caricature. 

Dot's Portrait

11" x 14" Oil on linen.

I revisited this portrait with some glazing to cut the deathly paleness.

Dot

(Click for a larger view.)
11" x 14" Oil on mounted linen.

Here's another portrait of my wife. I think the eyes still need some work and I may tone the skin with some glazing after some drying time. I liked the smile and look in the eyes from my reference, so that is what I am trying to capture. I also am missing her while she is traveling.

Dot at the Great Wall

11" x 14" Oil on linen.
not for sale

This was a fun portrait of my wife standing in front of the Great Wall of China. It was a nice photo that I worked from. I was after a loose feel with the color pushed a little. The above is the final version after some touchup around the eyes. (Of course there is still something wrong with the mouth...)

Different Folks Portrait

8" x 10" Oil on mounted linen.

Well, the 12 days of Christmas are over, so time to post my assignment for Different Strokes. I would not call myself a portrait artist, so this really was a challenge. Did I get the likeness? Are the colors okay? Did I make her look too fat or too thin? What's "wrong with the mouth"?

Another great quote from Sargent sums up my feelings, "Every time I paint a portrait I lose a friend." It's probably just some healthy self-doubt.

I did take a peek at what Sheila did with my photo. She got the likeness. (I think I have had enough of that snow now.) Of course, she has some more experience with faces. Check out her blog post with my portrait.

So, this is my part of the "group self portrait".

Flocking Trees and Portrait in Progress

Painting progess has slowed some as I have been working on cabinets for the house and doing other chores. Here you can see me flocking our evergreens on Christmas Day! ;^)

I do have a progress photo on a portrait of Dot. I have a portrait to do for the current Different Strokes challenge and I am warming up with one of my wife. She says portraits are scary and she is right when you are the subject! This is definitely in progress; at least one of the eyes needs scraping. We all know that John Singer Sargent said "A portrait is a painting with something wrong with the mouth." This one is not an exception.

Oil in progress 11" x 14"