Tuesday, May 27, 2014

"Sheldon" Goward House Portrait Painters

Sheldon sat for us today, and the dozen or so artists loved him. He sat still and was nice and chatty with them at the tea break, making many friends I believe.

And YES, they made the Biblical reference...but who wouldn't?

I did a pastel yet I was happier with the pencil profile that I sketched after tea.

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Monday, May 26, 2014

My Hero! A selfie by Sargent

John Singer Sargent this is his selfie which he painted in 1906. This man has inspired countless brilliant artists. Some critics find him too clever by half but if you've ever struggled with a brush you'll know that THIS is the man!

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Friday, May 16, 2014

"The Rock" acrylic 11x14 plein air.


I believe this rock is "erratic" or at best "eccentric" because it is not local to the area - it's as tall as a six-foot person and HEAVY. It could have been deposited on Mount Doug beach fifteen-thousand years ago during an ice age.
The yellow-green is seaweed found here at low tide. The mountain creek meets the sea where my seabirds are feeding on something.
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Thursday, May 15, 2014

"Boathouse" pastel 10x12

Happy day - I went painting with Delia Sansom and Ken Faulks today.
Pastels were my choice. Ken did oils and Delia gouache.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Why Faces and Hands are tough

There's always something a little wrong with a portrait. Even Sargent told his sitters "you can always fix it when you get it home." And, "a portrait is something a little wrong with the mouth." Faces are tough because everyone knows when a portrait is off. Especially a sensitive artist like me. So I battle to get the likeness and I'm still intent on improving. Hands are tough too. My hero John Singer Sargent solved his problem by painting hands like flowers.
Check out my portraits too, many of which can be found by scrolling down this my blog. Thanks for your compassionate ear. Ron

Tuesday, May 06, 2014

"Marcela" drawings at Goward House


Marcela sat for the 17 portrait painters today. I did three drawings - she liked this first one, graphite pencil and white on grey Sennelier paper.

(Then I did a quickie with Conté which I gave to a fellow artist in the group),

and finally I did Conté washed with watercolour which I enjoy because it's quick, sketchy and colourful...

Here's my photo of the sitter:

Three in three hours. I use various media, what works for one sometimes benefits my home medium which is OIL.

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