This is a 2 1/2 hour painting of Peter, a model originally from the Netherlands. I really enjoy painting these studies because I can get pretty bold with my brushwork and try new styles that I wouldn't use in my regular portrait work. For instance, the light area next to his nose was put in with one stroke of a heavily laden brush. I think it holds the whole painting together!

Lauren Reading

I drew 12 year old Lauren as she read yesterday evening. Modeling is really hard work, especially when you're 12 and you have to stare at the same page for 25 minutes at a time! She was such a trooper.

Melissa

This painting of Melissa was done in Door County, Wisconsin during an intensive 1 week workshop. I enjoyed painting the contrast of her very fair skin against the dark backdrop. Trying to capture the "essence" of a sitter is what I find so intriguing about portrait painting.

Jackie

This is a charcoal study of Jackie that I drew last night. She had beautiful shiny hair that kept falling over one eye. It created a wonderful shadow on her face. I had to draw quickly before her eye was completely obscured!

Carol

This oil study was done very quickly, using a limited palette of blue, yellow, red, black, white, and an earth color (burnt sienna). The red bow contrasted very nicely with her dark hair, and the color is picked up again in her cheek. When I'm working this fast, I can't overthink what I'm doing-- the study sometimes ends up with a lively quality that can capture the sitter's personality better than a formal portrait, or even a photograph!