Anthony and Harold

 

 

Hello Friends:

Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter. ~Oscar Wilde.

These two portraits were painted in open studio at Mainstreet. In any given session, there will be a group of artists painting the same person, from a different vantage point. At the culmination of the evening, we will circulate and see how each of us interpreted the same individual. Some will have soft edges and muted skin tones. And then some (like me) will push the color and edges as far as they can go. Each painting is lovely, and indeed often says more about the artist than the sitter.

Molly

 

Hello Friends:

Molly's grandmother (and our cousin) sent me a photo of her that she thought would make a Renoir-esque portrait. I couldn't resist such an opportunity. I went to work, focusing on Molly's creamy skin and pink cheeks, while keeping her eyes and hair more intensely dark, with punches of vibrant color. I kept the background lively, in an impressionistic, loose style. I find this style very appealing, especially with young children because it captures their vibrancy and personality without getting lost in detail. I hope you like it too.

Early Spring, Fox River

 

Hello Friends:

This morning, I set out to paint "en plein aire" with my artist friends Carol, Lynn, Bob, and Susan. We staked our claim on the side of the river in the morning and didn't stop painting until the sun was high. Early Spring on the river means lots of earthy colors, with punches of yellow-green just beginning to emerge.

Rod Blogojevich "Official" Portrait

 

Hello Friends:

Did you know that our great state is contemplating spending $25,000 for an official portrait of Blago? I decided to provide the state with an "official" portrait of my own for free-- half finished, just as he left his term! I've sent it to WGN radio, who is putting on a Blago free portrait contest. Perhaps I'll be able to save the taxpayers some money, and make a statement in the process.

Sandy

 

Hello Friends:

Pablo Picasso said that painting is just another way of keeping a diary. I love that thought. I have mementos of my interactions with hundreds of people, and I've tried to capture something striking about their face or their personality in each one. With Sandy, it was her serenity and intensely dark eyes. Since I only had a couple of hours with her, I started with a wet wash and built up with thicker layers of paint as I went along. As I was working on her face, I was unaware that the background had started to run down as it did. But when I stepped back, I was happy with the moody effect that the drippiness gave the painting.