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."

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."