Three More from the Wednesday Night Portrait Sessions!

Three more little paintings from life done at the Wednesday sessions. They were painted alla prima at sessions within the last month or two.

All three were painted in oil on panel, and measure 8" x 6". They were painted with a limited palette of yellow, red, black, and white. For a little more about painting with a limited palette, go to "Labels" on the side bar and click on "limited palette".

For more about portrait sessions, go to "Labels" on the side bar and click on "portrait", "sketching" or "drawing".

A Brunette and a Redhead

8" x 6" Oil on Panel

Two more recent portrait sketches from live models. Both were painted alla prima in oil in two and a half to three hours each at the weekly portrait sessions. The first one was painted with my usual "Zorn (ish)" palette of yellow ochre, cadmium red, ivory black, and titanium white.

8" x 6" Oil on Panel

For the second painting, I did something very different, at least for me. I usually keep my oil color choices for portraits much simpler than when I work in pastel. This time the model wore a turquoise colored blouse, and I really didn't want to miss getting the color contrast between her orange hair and the blouse. So I put blue on my palette. Not only one, but two different blues. The palette for the second painting was cadmium yellow, cadmium red, sevres blue, ultramarine blue, ivory black and titanium white. Sevres blue is an unusual color for me, and I only have it in the particular pochade box I used that evening. There are other blues which also would have served the purpose, but this one worked fine. Who knows, I may become more adventurous on portrait night and start putting more colors on my palette!

For more about portrait sessions, go to "Labels" on the side bar and click on "portrait", "sketching" or "drawing".

Man with Long Hair

10" x 8" Oil on Panel

When Casey Childs learned that a neighbor of his, a neighbor with particularly long hair, was going to get his hair cut, he hurried to have the long-haired neighbor sit for the weekly portrait session. He sat for us last Thursday, pre-haircut, and this is the oil paint portrait sketch I made of him. It was made with the usual "Zornish" selection of colors: titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red and ivory black.

For more about portrait sessions, go to "Labels" on the side bar and click on "portrait", "sketching" or "drawing".

Merry Christmas 2018

10" x 8" Oil on Panel

As often as I can, I attend painting and drawing sessions at other artist's studios. A week or so ago, one of the studios had none other than ol' Kris Kringle himself sitting for us to paint! Of course, instead of using charcoal, I had to break out the oil paints. As usual for my portrait oils, I used only four colors, almost a pure "Zorn palette": titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red (instead of vermilion) and ivory black. My little oil study of Santa is shown above.

Saint Nick is a fun subject to paint, and far easier than painting an entire nativity scene on portrait night. Of course the real reason for Christmas is expressed in the following video:

Merry Christmas everybody!

Paint, Scrape, Paint

12" x 9" Oil on Panel

You could say I made two paintings at the portrait session last Wednesday. Or maybe two paintings in one, neither of them finished.

These sessions are for practice, pushing your abilities, and sometimes trying new methods. Rarely do I ever "finish" a painting at these sessions. Generally, when the timer goes off at the end of the session, I'm through with my sketch.

Some sessions seem to go better for me than others. Last Wednesday my sketch didn't begin well, but I continued on, trying to force the painting to be better. Halfway through the session, I had to admit to myself that the sketch wasn't working and couldn't be corrected. So, out came the palette knife. The paint was scraped off of the panel, leaving a faint image on the panel. Over that, new paint was applied, with better attention to drawing. Now I had only half a session to work in - an hour and a half, minus breaks. The image above shows how the second half of the session went for me. Better, I think.

Colors used were cadmium yellow light, yellow ochre, cadmium red, quinacridone red, ivory black, and of course, titanium white.

For more about portrait sessions, go to "Labels" on the side bar and click on "portrait", "sketching" or "drawing".

Back to the Portrait Sessions for 2018

7" x 5" Oil on Panel

I was going to paint larger for my first portrait of the new year. However, upon arriving at Howard Lyon's studio for the weekly session, I realized that much of the equipment I had carefully prepared had accidentally been left at home. I did have a little 5" x 7" kit with me though, so that's what I used to do the little study shown above.

For more about portrait sessions, go to "Labels" on the side bar and click on "portrait", "sketching" or "drawing".

Oil Portrait Studies from Last Week

7" x 5" Oil on Panel

Lately I've been using rather small panels at the portrait study sessions. The first oil portrait study is from last Wednesday's session at Howard Lyon's studio. The second is from last Thursdays session at Casey Child's studio. Colors used were titanium white, cadmium yellow, cadmium red, and a color by Holbein called blue black. 

7" x 5" Oil on Panel

For more about portrait sessions, go to "Labels" on the side bar and click on "portrait", "sketching" or "drawing".

Nationally Known Singer/Locally Known Artist's Model

7" x 5" Oil on Panel

This is a little portrait study I painted at last week's Wednesday night portrait session. There was a full house at the session, so the only place for me to set up was right square in front of the model. Because of that, I didn't get to paint her long dark hair which was pulled back in a ponytail. Painters and drawers had about three hours to work from the model. My little oil sketch could use some more work, but when time is called at the end of these sessions, I consider myself done even if the sketch isn't. After all, it's just a study; an exercise. Kind of like how musicians practice before concerts, actors rehearse before plays, and athletes work out before games.

The model originally scheduled for last Wednesday's portrait session didn't show. However, the man who runs the sessions has connections, so a substitute model was called in. Not an ordinary model, though. The model for our session last week is a local singer/songwriter who has appeared on NBC's The Voice, and been featured in a Scott Bradley video, and who goes by the name of Belle Jewel. The studio owner's connection to the singer? She's his daughter.

If you're interested, you can find out more about Belle Jewel at her YouTube channel.

Here's her video on Scott Bradley's Postmodern Jukebox: 

And one of her performances on The Voice:

For more about portrait sessions, go to "Labels" on the side bar and click on "portrait", "sketching" or "drawing".

Brunette

10" x 8" Oil on Panel

A short post, and another two and a half hour or so oil sketch from one of last weeks portrait sessions. A fun model to paint. Colors used for this portrait were the usual: cadmium yellow, cadmium red, ivory black, and titanium white.

For more about portrait sessions, go to "Labels" on the side bar and click on "portrait", "sketching" or "drawing".

Mutton Chops

7" x 5" Oil on Canvas Panel

Our model for the portrait session last Thursday was fun to paint. I arrived a little late so I had to set up way over on the side, as all the spots in front of the model were already taken. Because of that, I only got to paint one mutton chop, not both. That would have been twice as much fun!

This little painting was made, as usual, with just three colors, plus titanium white. Cadmium yellow and cadmium red were used, but instead of ivory black I used a Holbein color called "blue black."

For more about portrait sessions, go to "Labels" on the side bar and click on "portrait", "sketching" or "drawing".

Yellow, Red, Black and White

10" x 8" Oil on Panel

A few more from the weekly portrait sessions. As mentioned in the posts title, these were painted with a limited palette. When painting plein air landscapes, I usually use some kind of split primary plus green. For studying portraits at the weekly sessions, I limit colors to a modified "Zorn" palette;  usually yellow ochre (or cadmium yellow), cadmium red, ivory black, and titanium white. I probably won't always use that palette for painting people, but it serves it's purpose for now.

10" x 8" Oil on Panel

The first two portraits shown here are the most recent ones. They were painted with only yellow ochre, cadmium red, ivory black, and titanium white. The last portrait was painted a month or so ago, and I don't remember the exact paints used.

10" x 8" Oil on Panel

The last portrait is of Micah Christensen. Micah is an art historian and lecturer who's work takes him to places all over the country and around the globe. He was good enough to sit for us one Thursday evening at Casey Child's studio. This portrait could have been better, but rather than hold still, Micah talked for the whole three hours. I was OK with that because of what he had to say about artists of the past, the art world of yesteryear and today, and what the future could hold for the visual arts. I was happy for the opportunity to listen to him while I painted. For more information about Micah Christensen, click here. While you're at it, be sure to check out his lectures, articles and other presentations about 18th and 19th century visual arts at The Bearded Roman.

For more about portrait sessions, go to "Labels" on the side bar and click on "portrait", "sketching" or "drawing".

Green Blouse

10" x 8" Oil on Panel

Here's an oil sketch from last week's Thursday night portrait session. As always, I painted until time was called. I never get finished with these, but what a valuable exercise they are! There was a little change to the colors on my palette for this painting. Like always, titanium white, ivory black, and cadmium red were used for this portrait, but then I used two yellows; yellow ochre and cadmium yellow. Ultramarine blue was also introduced into the mix.

For more about portrait sessions, go to "Labels" on the side bar and click on "portrait", "sketching" or "drawing".

Three Women

10" x 8" Oil on Panel

Here are some more portrait sketches from the weekly portrait sessions. All three were made using oil paint and were painted from live models.

The first one shown is the most recent, and was painted last Wednesday. It was made using my most Zorn-ish color palette: yellow ochre, cadmium red (instead of vermillion), ivory black, and titanium white (instead of flake white).

8" x 6" Oil on Panel

The next two were painted with a few changes or additions to that palette. Having been two or three weeks since they were painted, however, I'm not sure I can remember everything I did differently. For the second painting shown here, more Naples yellow and less white was used. It was an experiment to see what would happen if a pale yellow was largely substituted for white.

10" x 8" Oil on Panel

The third painting is of a substitute model. She filled in on the spur of the moment when the originally scheduled model failed to show. This was painted on an entirely untoned panel to see what effect that would have on the portrait.

For more about portrait sessions, go to "Labels" on the side bar and click on "portrait", "sketching" or "drawing".

Portrait Model with Red Hair

8" x 6" Oil on Panel

This week's post shows the painting I made at last Thursday's portrait session. I arrived late, but so did the model so I didn't really lose any time. There was even a good spot for me to set up my paintbox and easel. 

Colors used were slightly different this time. I mistook a tube of naples yellow for a different yellow and accidentally squeezed some onto my palette before realizing the mistake. Then I thought "Why not try it?" and found it to be a very good color to use in light skin tones. Other colors used were cadmium yellow lemon, cadmium red purple, and ivory black.

For more about portrait sessions, go to "Labels" on the side bar and click on "portrait", "sketching" or "drawing.

A Couple Portraits From Early May

8" x 6" Oil on Panel

It's been a little while since I've done any portrait sketches from life. The first image in this post shows the portrait I did last Thursday at Casey Childs studio. Colors used were yellow ochre, cadmium red purple, ivory black, and titanium white. That is, all except for the necklace pendant. There was no way I could get the color of that pendant with a Zorn(ish) palette. After trying once or twice to change it into something else, I gave in and squeezed a dab of Holbein's "permanent green" (a hue which contains phthalo green) onto my palette, using that color for the necklace pendant only.

8" x 6" Oil on Panel

The second image shows the portrait I painted the day before at Howard Lyon's studio. That day I was in the mood to paint the shadow side of the subject with only a little rim lighting visible. Colors used were yellow ochre, cadmium red, ivory black, and titanium white.

For more about portrait sessions, go to "Labels" on the side bar and click on "portrait", "sketching" or "drawing.

Oil Sketch of a Bearded Man

8" x 10" Oil on Panel

Here is another portrait sketch in oil from the ongoing weekly visits to the portrait sessions. This one is from last week. These sessions not only allow me to exercise sketching and painting skills, but also to meet and exchange ideas with other painters and hear about art happenings near and far. There's so much to learn from seeing how the other session attendees draw and paint!

Colors used for this portrait were cadmium yellow, cadmium red, ivory black, and titanium white.

For more about portrait sessions, go to "Labels" on the side bar and click on "portrait", "sketching" or "drawing.

A Cowboy and a Woman

6" x 6" Oil on Canvas Panel

Here's a couple of portrait studies from last week. The cowboy painting was made with cadmium yellow, cadmium red purple, ivory black, and titanium white.

8" x 6" Oil on Panel

The woman's portrait study was painted with yellow ochre, cadmium red purple, ivory black and titanium white. It's so good to have places to go every week to practice slingin' paint around with other painters!

For more about portrait sessions, go to "Labels" on the side bar and click on "portrait", "sketching" or "drawing."

Another Recent Portrait Study

8" x 6" Oil on Panel

A week into February and I've still not had any success yet this year getting out to paint plein air landscapes. However, I'm still going to the portrait sessions every week, so this weeks blog post will be about the portrait sketch from last Wednesday's session. Colors used were, as usual, yellow ochre, cadmium red purple, and ivory black, plus titanium white.

Landscapes are coming.

For more about portrait sessions, go to "Labels" on the side bar and click on "portrait", "sketching" or "drawing."

Portrait Sketches from January

8" x 6" Oil on Panel

It's challenging to get back into the swing of things after so much time away from painting during the holidays. The first two oil sketches are from the Wednesday night portrait sessions at Howard Lyon's studio.

8" x 6" Oil on Panel

The second model was the 13 year old daughter of one of the painters who attends the sessions.

The colors for these three portrait sketches was the usual limited palette I've been working with lately: yellow ochre, cadmium red purple, ivory black, and titanium white.

10" x 8" Oil on Panel

The third sketch is from the Thursday evening portrait session at Casey Childs studio. It was a short session because the sitter also had to be somewhere else later that evening. I wasn't aware of that until Casey announced the last sitting for the session. It ended a half hour early, but that's OK. I'm posting my sketch here anyway. I'm happy to have so many opportunities to work from life and see what other painters are doing.

For more about portrait sessions, go to "Labels" on the side bar and click on "portrait", "sketching" or "drawing."

A New Model and a New Paint Color

8" x 6" Oil on Panel

It's been either too cold (5° F) or way too wet to paint outdoors. Haven't been to any portrait sessions for a few weeks and I'm eager to start painting from life again. The picture shown above is of my painting from last Wednesdays session.

This little portrait was painted with a three color palette, plus white. Colors used were: titanium white, ivory black, yellow ochre, and a new color - cadmium red purple.

"Cadmium red purple? Was ist das cadmium red purple?" you might ask. Well, let me explain. For plein air paintings I generally use a split primary palette, with one or two additional colors. Every once in a while I'll search for new colors to substitute for others in the split primary palette. In my search for a cool red alternative to alizarin crimson, I came across cadmium red purple. It sounded like it should work, but it didn't. Alizarin crimson is dark and "transparent" - qualities I need in that part of my plein air palette. Cadmium red purple is neither. So cad red purple became one of those unused tubes of paint that just took up space in my paintbox. That is, until last Wednesday. On that day the lighting, setting and model all had cool tones, so instead of using regular cadmium red, I saw the previously unappreciated cad red purple in my box and thought to try it. I think it worked.

I'm not saying cadmium red purple should be a permanent part of my palette. I probably could have gotten another red to work just as well at last Wednesday's session. But painters should step outside the box they're used to working in and try new things. When something new doesn't work as intended, you might later find it works just right for something unexpected.

For more about portrait sessions, go to "Labels" on the side bar and click on "portrait", "sketching" or "drawing."