Woman in a White Fur Hat

10" x 8" Oil on Panel

Yesterday evening was the annual Christmas Party at Casey Child's studio, which was well attended. Last year we got to paint someone dressed as Santa Claus, whose outfit seemed to be mostly polyester beard. This year was better. Our model was a woman with long brown hair. She wore a wintry looking outfit of blue and white with gold accents, and bright silvery bling. 

The picture shown above is of the painting I made of the model yesterday evening. The oil colors I used were cadmium yellow, cadmium red, alizarin crimson permanent, ultramarine blue, ivory black, and titanium white. That's a couple colors more than I usually put out on my palette for a portrait study session, but I wanted to push the colors a little more and get some blue/violet tones in the painting.

I also want to wish everyone a...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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

Silver Hair

8" x 6" Oil on Panel

This portrait sketch is from a portrait session last week. It was fun painting someone who has "Emmylou Harris" colored hair! Oil paints used were yellow ochre, cadmium red, ivory black, and titanium white. I never use a medium except to occasionally thin paint a little with odorless mineral spirits (OMS). One of these days I'll try experimenting with different mediums, but for now, I paint without them.

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

One Early December Day

10" x 8" Oil on Panel

Here's a little landscape that was painted last week. It's of a grey, moody day near the lake west of town. Colors used were cadmium yellow, cadmium red, anthraquinone red (in place of alizarin crimson), ultramarine blue, and titanium white. Anthraquinone and ultramarine were mixed together with a touch of yellow to make the darks used in the painting.

I'm not quite used to the colder weather yet and didn't dress warmly enough for the day. I thought I was warm enough when I started out, but as it got later my fingers became cold and stiff. Then the rest of me started getting colder. By the time the painting was finished my hands were too cold to sign it. The signature had to wait until I got back home and warmed up.

Portrait Sketch From Last Thursday

8" x 6" Oil on Panel

It's been way too much time since the last post. Hopefully I'll be able to fit some blog posts in during this busy time of year.

This is a sketch made from life, painted in oils last Thursday. I've gotten into the habit of taking my little willow 6" x 8" pochade box to the portrait sessions. Colors used in this portrait were, as usual, 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."

Two More Portrait Sketches

8" x 6" Oil on Panel

The portrait studies continue. May they always continue. That's how new things are learned and skills are honed. The first picture in this post was painted at the portrait session last Wednesday. 

8" x 6" Oil on Panel

The second picture was painted at last Thursday's portrait session. The colors chosen for these two studies are my usual limited palette when I paint in oils at the portait sessions: 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."

Blonde Braids

8" x 6" Oil on Canvas Panel

It's been a little while since I've posted anything, so here's an oil sketch painted from life from one of last week's portrait sessions. Colors used were, as usual: yellow ochre, cadmium red, and ivory black, plus titanium white.

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

Blondie and Redbeard

8" x 6" Oil on Panel

The opportunity to practice painting from live models is so valuable to me. These two portrait sketches in oil paint are from this week's portrait sessions. The one shown above is from Wednesday evening's session at Howard Lyon's studio.

8" x 6" Oil on Canvas Panel

This next one was painted yesterday at Casey Childs Studio. Both were painted with a palette of yellow ochre, cadmium red, and ivory black, plus white. One of these days I'll start throwing other colors onto the palette for my portraits, but for now, this simple color combination works. It's a limited palette, but it's not really all that limiting for portrait studies.

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