"Kelsey" oil 11 x 14

Kelsey sat for the portrait painters of Goward House recently. I was a bit rushed on this three-hour painting so I re-painted her left eye when I got it home. I reckoned it was a bit high during my first rendering of her.

Three portrait sketches at Goward House

While were waiting for Fatality (our model) to arrive today we did a sketch of Ken, one of our portrait artists at Goward House today. Conte pencil and watercolour. We still had a couple of minutes:

So we did another quickie of ken. Charcoal on canvas. Then our designated model Faye (Fatality) arrived straight from her class at UVic. This is my two-and-a-half hour oil sketch of her:

She said afterwards that she liked my portrait 'cos it made her look like a witch but I thought this was her THOUGHTFUL mode - anyway, she DID like it after all, and y'know the rule - if you sit you get to choose which portrait to take home - no charge.

Our portrait session started at 1pm and ended with a Show 'n Tell at 4pm. I'm glad for the chance to have done three sketches in this time.

"Elk Lake Reeds" oil on stretched canvas 16 x 20

First a small thumbnail sketch done in pencil on scrap paper (why waste) to work out the composition.

Something bothered me though. After breaking it down to the essential shapes I realised that I had to lose the boathouse because the composition was getting too busy and I was in danger of getting two subjects in one, if you know what I mean.

So I left out the rowing club and painted Elk Lake with the reed shapes alone.

 Much better.

Click on the image to see an enlargement. Your opinion is welcome, is keeping it simple better? Click on the small white envelope below to email me direct. Or click on COMMENTS so that the others can see your thoughts too...the more diverse the opinions, the better.
Thanks

Ron



"Nefertiti" 8 x 10 oil on plywood

What exquisite beauty. Hats off to the person who cast this ORIGINAL 3-D image, what good practice it is for a portrait painter!
I painted this on re-claimed wooden plywood.The cracks and fissures show, adding credibility to the rendering.
Click image to enlarge it.

Pencil practice - sketches of the art group

I feel that the occasional doodle on paper is priceless - it not only sharpens your skills but your pencil aswell! Sketches bordering on caricature that I made at a weekly gathering of portrait painters at Goward House.

"Jim" 11 x 14 oil

If it's Tuesday it must be Goward House. Our sitter today is Jim, ex-army, jovial, and at ease. You know the rule, if you sit for the dozen or so portrait artists for three hours at Goward House you get to take home the portrait of your choice free of charge. I was pleased when he chose mine, I lost a canvas but I gained much experience from the session. I was the winner here.

My thanks to Captain Bill McKechnie for the photograph.

"Classic Dinghy" oil sketch approx. 7x7 inches

A clinker built dinghy is a classic. I saw this one at the Classic Boat Festival at the Inner Harbour in Victoria BC recently. Lots of brightwork on all sides.

"Fall, Beacon Hill Park's mayor's Grove" oil 8 x 10

Rain, rain, rain but not a pain because the colours are soft and intense - ideal for painting. This is my favourite tree in the fall, I've painted it at least three times over the years. One can cope with the rain IF...

...if one can keep one's canvas from the wet drops. This sign board offered some protection and I erected my painting umbrella too. My  blood is still too warm for the cold weather but I dressed in many layers! The oil sketch is available - please check Fine Art America http://ron-wilson.fineartamerica.com/ for the details.

"Superintendent Frank" oil 11 x 14



Super Frank sat for about a dozen portrait painters at Goward House today. We spoke about how our respective families are blessed with what my folks called 'a Roman nose.' I think it's a sign of nobility but that's just an opinion... I can quite see this noble Caesar gazing out over his Legions of many soldiers!

"Bald Eagle" w/c pencil on gesso board 8 x 10

 Benjamin Franklin didn't think that the bald eagle was appropriate as an American national symbol.
Granted, although he thought the eagle was magnificent, he rather fancied the hard-working characteristics of the ... can you guess?  Keith said the turkey. Thnx Keith, I also heard he liked the osprey: "Bald eagles are notorious for stealing fish from ospreys. In fact, this was one of the reasons why founding father Benjamin Franklin did not want the bald eagle to be America’s national symbol. Franklin thought the eagle was lazy because it would wait for the osprey to catch a fish, then harass the osprey in mid-air until the smaller raptor dropped its prize. "

But mostly the researchers agree that he fancied the turkey. Good one, buddy.

Fine Art America is now offering this original drawing and a number of prints for sale. Go to http://ron-wilson.fineartamerica.com/ for prices.

You can see a bigger version of the drawing if you click on the image above. Then press your BACK button to return,  and it'll be great if you could leave me a response or ask a question - click on COMMENTS below. Or click on the tiny white envelope to send me an email.
Thanks

Ron

"Tom" Conte pencil on Robert Bateman paper

I was supposed to be painting with the ALFS outdoors this morning but it rained cats and dogs, so I drew indoors instead.

A very patient Tom sat for me. We worked for forty minutes. Anyhow, I like this portrait not because it's good but because I see now that this jerky, rough way of drawing is unique - no one else I know draws like this. The style is mine, I have been doing it like this for thirty years or more - perhaps I'll post an earlier one some time - as a comparison.
I'm glad I have a STYLE  - it's something one cannot force, it just comes with time.

Click Tom's image to see an enlargement,  then (at the top right of the new window) click it off at the X to return here -- please drop me a line (click on "comments" below here) that'll be great!
Thanks,

Ron
Fortunately the pencil portrait kinda looks like Tom. Corry likes it.

When Sargent's sitters ever complained about their likenesses (it didn't often happen) he used to tease them by saying "you can always fix it when you get it home..."

"Pat Bay Berry Tree" oil 6 x 8

I arrived late for the morning's paint-out with the Al Frescoes. Frank looked at his watch and said that I had 45 minutes to get my work done before Show 'n Tell time at noon!

So, liking a challenge, I went ahead and dashed off this lil' 6 x 8 in 42 minutes. Does it work? COMMENTS (see below) are invited.

"Alannah" oil 14 x11

After a summer break I returned to the Goward House Portrait Painters to find the dozen or so artists in good form. Our sitter today sat very still yet I didn't think I got a good likeness after the three-hour session - you can't win 'em all,  painting is a lot like golf, some times you miss,  some times you are on par.
Anyhow, I was happy with my colors and brushwork even if I wasn't exactly accurate in my portrayal. So I went back after a couple weeks and re-painted her eyes. Still not an exact likeness but more pleasing than my first rendering ...

Click the painting for a bigger view.   X it off your screen at rop right when you're done.



"High Wind at Cattle Point" oil 16 x 20

I actually saw this bird (a female Brewer's Blackbird) clinging to a twig, facing into the wind just as a schooner was sailing by. I was struck by the scene and vowed to paint it just as it appeared on that windy wintery morning at Cattle Point, Victoria BC. According to Wikipedia, the Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) is a medium-sized New World blackbird, named after the ornithologist Thomas Mayo Brewer. (They like to be near water, feed on insects, and need not have to migrate).

If you click on the image you'll get a bigger view, then press your BACK button to return here.
Your COMMENT on the style and the mood of this piece is welcome (click the word COMMENTS below, or for a private and direct email to me, click on the tiny white envelope).

"Sunbeams Under the Sea" (Poster) acrylic

My "Sunbeams" got third prize at the outdoor Gallery-by-the-Sea on the Fish Hut at the end of the Sidney Pier in BC. Nicceee....

"Dodge Truck" oils on canvas 8 x 10

We came across this surviving Dodge truck on the quay at Telegraph Cove, Vancouver Island. At a guess I would say that it dates back to the war years 1939-1945. If you know the actual year of manufacture, please let me know by clicking on COMMENT below and sending a message

. Thanks, Ron

"Sea Stacks" oils 20 x 24

I learnt that the rocks of these vertical columns are firmer than the surrounding material, so,  through the erosion process over thousands of years these sea stacks are formed. Anyway, they make excellent subjects for the artist. I found them on the coast of  Washington State. I decided to render them with a looser approach than the style I usually employ.

If you click on the image you can see a larger view.

Your COMMENT is welcome

"Crows" acrylic 8 x 10

 
"Crows" at Cridge Park in downtown Victoria BC. Plein air.

"Wild Sweetpeas" oil 11 x 14 plein air

Wild sweetpeas paint the slopes of the Dallas Road Cliffs in Victoria.
It was a strange morning because fog rolled in and hid the horizon for at least forty minutes. Some artists packed up and left, others stood around and chatted until the weather cleared. And it did.
Click on the image for a bigger view then press your BACK button to return here, and leave a COMMENT if you will - feedback is welcome.

"Aubergine Specialty Foods" oil 8 x 10

This painterly shop is in Fernwood, Victoria BC.  Specialising in Canadian, South African and British fare, it sells fresh produce and coffees, biscuits, cereals, jams, and boerewors.  It's in a trendy neighbourhood complete with a theatre, coffee shops and art galleries.

If you click on this image you'll see a bigger picture but afterwards use your BACK button to return here. COMMENTS are welcome.