PORTRAIT GALLERY - November/ December 2011

[Lauren F-M]

What's on your easel (or in your sketchbook) this month?

This gallery is "open" until the end of 2011, and I expect lots of work up on the walls! :D

Show a finished portrait, or one in any stage of progress (WIP = Work in Progress). This thread is for showcasing your work; others will only critique your work if you request it.

Note that finished Holiday Portrait Swap portraits can (and are heartily encouraged!) be posted here, too. The more the merrier! :clap:

So please show us what you've been up to this month. We'd love to see it.

Note: If you welcome Comments and/or Critique, let us know when you post (ie: "Cs & Cs welcome")

Even if you have already shown it in the main portraiture forum, you are invited to showcase it in this thread, also, as this thread will remain in the Library Archives. (We welcome Self-portraits... anything portrait, in all mediums)

And be sure to check out previous Portrait Galleries in the Archives. Lots of great work in there!

So... let's get those portraits set up in the gallery.... :thumbsup: :D
__________________

[AmritS]

Here is my finished version. Not much in it I know, but I redid the hand and added more yellow to her face.


http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/03-Nov-2011/973175-photo15.JPG

[Lauren F-M]

Well, here I am with some work to hang in the gallery. Both are works-in-progress of the same model, who is currently modeling for two groups I attend. I had posted the first WIP shots in the old (Sept./ Oct.) Portrait Gallery thread, but will post them again here, so you can see them from the beginning. :D

Susannah is our lovely model. Last Wednesday I started off by doing a sketch of her; about an hour, as I was late:
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/03-Nov-2011/20772-Susannah_Draw1.jpg
From the drawing and a photo reference I took, I drew her again on a prepared 8" x 10" panel, in conte, in prep to paint this week:
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/03-Nov-2011/20772-Susan1_oil_WIP1_WC.jpg
Starting in with oils from life, after 1 hour:
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/03-Nov-2011/20772-Susan1_oil_WIP2_WC.jpg
... after another hour... (can only add so much paint, as the surface is very slick, and the paints tend to lift what is under)
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/03-Nov-2011/20772-Susan1_oil_WIP3_WC.jpg
We have one more session (2+1/4 hours) with this pose next week.

Thursday: started an oil of Susannah last week, after doing a little thumbnail sketch first. Here is the sketch and the first WIP of the painting (10" x 10") at the end of that session (3 hours for both):
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/03-Nov-2011/20772-Susannah2_Sketch.jpg
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/03-Nov-2011/20772-Susannah2_WIP1+.jpg
After this morning's 3-hour session (sorry for the quality of the photo; hard to get good light with no shine):
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/03-Nov-2011/20772-Sus2_WIP2a_WC.jpg
We have two more 3-hour sessions with this pose. :D

Thanks for looking!

[raeburn10025]

These look great so far Lauren.

[Lauren F-M]

Thanks, Raeburn! :D
Also -- I really like your oil head studies (man named Raven?) on your Flickr page. :clap: I hope you will be posting up some work here. :thumbsup:

[raeburn10025]

Raven, yes - I did a few quick studies. These are best ones I think. Oil on linen. Thanks for the compliment!

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Nov-2011/37710-raven5.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Nov-2011/37710-raven3.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Nov-2011/37710-raven2.jpg

[mnsrc]

Hello everybody, wonderful inspirational work!

I started on a project last night which will be a retirement gift for a colleague of mine. Since its a surprise, I'm working with a scanned reference photo which is nice, but way overexposed on the left side. His wife is sending me the original so I hope its better. Anyway, this will be in black and white charcoal and fairly realistic and detailed. Right now I've basically got him blocked in using a "Sofft" sponge tool dipped in charcoal, I've set the location of the major landmarks (pupils, corners of the mouth, etc., and I've started on the rough shadow shapes. C=C always welcome. I'll post updates here.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Nov-2011/207742-ljc.jpg http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Nov-2011/207742-IMAG0523.jpg http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Nov-2011/207742-IMAG0524.jpg

[jules34]

Here is an oil on canvas 16X20 that I finished. It was my first portrait and was very special, the girl on the left is in Iraq and this was the only photo her dad (middle) had of him and his daughters. He cried when he picked it up and of course I cried also.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Nov-2011/975939-portrait_3.jpg

[mnsrc]

Wonderful work, Jules.

[juliajane]

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Nov-2011/140757-ella_2.JPG

This is one I am working on - I tried to take a photo of it 4 times in various lighting and it is STILL too blue - it is much less blue in reality and there are greens in there that aren't coming through in this pic

[juliajane]

Lauren - that painting is amazing and is going to be even more so when finished!

Raeburn - I've already complimented you enough for one day ;)

Martin - looking forward to seeing how this develops

Jules - lovely portrait and lovely story!

[Oilybloke]

Great stuff going on here:thumbsup:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/05-Nov-2011/185744-IMG_4248.jpg

[Lauren F-M]

Raeburn -- All three "Raven"s are wonderful, and you have really captured him; I'd know him if I met him (much to his surprise, I'm sure!)
:thumbsup:

Martin -- You have a great structural start to this; a great credit to you, due to the bad quality of the reference photo. I look forward to seeing your progresson this one. :D

Jules -- you have captured great expressions on all three here. :clap: I'd watch your edges, as some look a bit hard, where I'd go with softer.

Julia -- A very colourful painting. I'm having trouble making out what the girl is doing. :confused:

Leigh -- Wow! :clap: Another stunning portrait! :D

Amrit - (we moved your portrait over to the current Portrait Gallery thread, as you posted it in the old one after the end of Oct.) Looking good! :clap: In future, mind your soft and hard edges. It's something I know that I need to work on, as well. :rolleyes:

[dollardays]

Great work here!

I paint from life mostly.

Here is Thomas from today: 11" x 14" oil on board - 2 hour pose

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/05-Nov-2011/3589-Thomas-small.jpg

This girl is five hours. 14" x 18" oil on linen

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/05-Nov-2011/3589-Belly-dancer-resting2-small.jpg

[Lauren F-M]

Nice work, Nora! :clap: :clap:
It's always a pleasure to see your work. :D
That first one of the guitarist is wonderful -- and I doubly-applaude you, as I know how hard it is to draw/ paint a guitar at that angle from life. The sitter usually keeps moving a bit, so the guitar angle keeps changing. You caught it! :thumbsup:
The lady is lovely and the painting looks exotic. Was the setting all set up where you painted this? Really adds mood. :clap:

[juliajane]

Hi Lauren

She is drinking from a bottle with a straw and dreamily contemplating.... the meaning of the life of a 4 year old? :)

[mnsrc]

This weekend's progress:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/06-Nov-2011/207742-IMAG0533.jpg http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/06-Nov-2011/207742-IMAG0538.jpg http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/06-Nov-2011/207742-IMAG0540.jpg

[roy-p]

Such a great pleasure going through the varied styles... you guys are all so very talented, and so individual in your expressions. I already know how good Lauren is, have been following her art for a while, but this little exhibition (on the first page itself!) of the work of artists I'm not equally familiar with - fills me with such joy and admiration.

Humbly stands back and :clap:

[Lauren F-M]

Thanks, Prosenjit! :heart:

Martin -- your drawing is coming along very well! :clap:

[janeTuesday]

Great work here!

I paint from life mostly.

Here is Thomas from today: 11" x 14" oil on board - 2 hour pose

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/05-Nov-2011/3589-Thomas-small.jpg

This girl is five hours. 14" x 18" oil on linen

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/05-Nov-2011/3589-Belly-dancer-resting2-small.jpg I have popped in here to get some inspiration for a life night class I am meant to be running this Friday night. And as a good old WC! friend does, Nora you have yet again made me so envious of what a couple of hours of life painting can produce. I love the girl on couch, maybe I have to set up more of a scene with my model, as like in this. Your paintings as always are simply beautiful :thumbsup::clap::heart::D

[123harry]

Great work here....
Striking studies from Lauren, Raeburn and Dolardays
Julia: I love your portrait of the little girl, it is so lively and individual.
Jules: It must be rewarding to get that sort of response.
Martin: Good luck, keep us posted.
Bettythecat: Masterly.

[Lauren F-M]

Thanks, Harry! :D

Yesterday I worked some more on Susannah portrait study #1 -- we have our last session with this pose tomorrow, and as I'd only gotten the base down in oil last week, I wanted to get some more done (from a photo reference) before then. Here is where it is now:
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/08-Nov-2011/20772-Susan1_oil_WIP4a_WC.jpg

I had taken a photo of the model in that pose from another angle -- which I like a lot. So, I started another 8" x 10" oil study of that pose, which I'll have to do from photos (as I can't paint from two POV at the same time, and someone else is set up there.) :lol:
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/08-Nov-2011/20772-Susan3_oil_WIP1_WC.jpg

[Sandybells]

This is from the Portrait exchange for Christmas.http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/08-Nov-2011/181305-aaaaaaaLG_Humphries_003.jpg

[asarkis]

Great works everybody!:clap: :clap: :clap:
My pencil attempts that I started 2 weeks ago from July/August Challenge.
Alas, I could not do them in time, but as it is said, "Better late than never".

[JFountain]

This is the first time I posted on this thread but you guys and gals have some amazing work. I feel brave so I'm going to post one of mine C's and C's welcome. Im going to post one I previously worked on then in Dec. I'll post the new one I'm about to start this week or next week. Hope it's not offensive to anyone 9 by 12 acrylic. http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/08-Nov-2011/775222-artwork_001.jpg

[janeTuesday]

JFountain - its not offensive to me, its just that the focus is not on the face :o, all I see in this painting is a really bad boob job. I find it hard to comment on how you have painted the face because of the boobs! And boobs with no nipples at that! Unless her breasts are meant to be the focus of this painting I would be improving them in size, shape and tone and taking the focus away. Its a very bottom heavy painting imho. :cat:

[Lauren F-M]

Sandybells -- Wow -- you are fast with your swap portrait! :eek: Nice work! :D

Anna -- No problem with late posts of challenge references! Glad to see you working from them, as they are wonderful photo references. You've done four really nice drawings of them. Hard to pick my favourite, as they are all nice. :thumbsup:

JFountain -- welcome to the Portrait Gallery! :D I see a bit of shine on the photo (this happens a lot when I photograph my work, too), so I'm thinking that the face colours are probably a bit richer. I like how you've rendered her face and the shadow on her neck under the chin. The features work well together, though I find the hair -- which is rather stylized -- kind of flat in comparison. Her left arm doesn't work -- needs more work so that it isn't so flat.

[dollardays]

Thanks very much, Jane! Glad I could provide some inspiration for your life session. :) Painting the girl was a special occasion as I was visiting the Scottsdale Artists School, and they host a really nice open studio session with wonderful props. Our group here at home doesn't put that much effort into the set-up either. The guitar that Thomas is holding is about as fancy as we get.

JFountain-- I have to agree with Jane. The breasts don't look real and they simply overpower the poor girl's face.

[kevinwueste]

Martin - I like how you are building out the drawing - good stuff!
Jane - Lovely paintings!
Anna - better late - absolutely - it makes me happy that those images inspired - great drawings!
Lauren - lovely color and light on Hanna - looking forward to your updates!
Sandy - a lot of feeling i that work and the color harmony is nice as well.
JFountain - I think you are certainly getting the forms to feel.. "form-y" !! I think the face is nicely done. You might consider sharing this in the figure forum as well.

I know I missed a ton of great works but wanted to say hey !

Kevin

[Lauren F-M]

Thanks, Kevin! :D
Here's an update, plus 2 ref. photos I took; one last week, and the other, today.
This WIP shot (not good, but very hard to take a photo without shine) is after today's (our last) session with the model. To finish from here, I'll have to go from photos and memory.
Looking at it now -- in better light, and also in the photo -- I see my values on her jaw/lower cheek area need adjustment. I will work on that while the paint is still wet, as in the studio, I had bad light on my painting, so the subtleties of the colours were very hard to see. :rolleyes:
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/09-Nov-2011/20772-Susan1_oil_WIP5_wc.jpg

Here are two ref. photos; the first was taken last week, and the second, today.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/09-Nov-2011/20772-Sus1_RefA_wc.jpg
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/09-Nov-2011/20772-Sus1-RefB_wc.jpg

I welcome any Cs & Cs! :D
I'm also unsure how to best handle the background, as I think the value needs a change behind her head. Any suggestions? :confused:

[mnsrc]

She is looking fabulous, Lauren. Great work! She has a very noble air. Here's progress on the portrait. I ended up doing some pretty major revisions after realizing that his profile was much narrower than I had rendered it. As you can see I've moved to the lit side of the face, which is in white charcoal.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/09-Nov-2011/207742-IMAG0542.jpg http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/09-Nov-2011/207742-IMAG0544.jpg

[lovin art]

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/09-Nov-2011/20772-Susan1_oil_WIP5_wc.jpg

Here are two ref. photos; the first was taken last week, and the second, today.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/09-Nov-2011/20772-Sus1_RefA_wc.jpg
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/09-Nov-2011/20772-Sus1-RefB_wc.jpg

I welcome any Cs & Cs! :D
I'm also unsure how to best handle the background, as I think the value needs a change behind her head. Any suggestions? :confused:

One of your most beautiful heads Ive seen you paint girl !!!:clap: :heart:
Why not use what was there to begin with Lauren , your bg is to blue it needs to be more subtle like the hue of the soft purple it will compliment her skintone more :D

Martin Nice work ..:wave: . im curious how you approached the start of this drawing?

[mnsrc]

Thanks, Sandra. The reference photo and the earlier stages of the drawing are posted on pages 1 and 2 of this thread. This is the second time I've tried to use Sanden's techniques for starting a portrait, but looking back, I can see I was off from the start.

[Lauren F-M]

Thanks, dear Sandra! :D
Actually, the purple isn't so blue IRL. It was hard to adjust the colours in Photoshop, though I tried... Glad you like her. I'm actually doing three portraits of her right now! :eek: Also, I asked her if I can use some of the photos I've taken of her (from quite a few angles) in a future Portrait Challenge, and she's all for it! :thumbsup: So, in the new year.... (once we Portrait 'staff' haggle it all out...)

Martin -- I would have a hard time knowing how my proportions were if I didn't put at least rough-ins of the eyes, so doing just one at a time like that is really tricky, I think. I'm sure you will work things out; you have a great start on this one. :clap:

[asarkis]

Kevin - Thanks for encouragement. It means a lot to me.
Lauren - The head is very well developed. I liked the background in post # 22 better. The underlying tone was giving some kind of luminosity as it seemed to me.
Martin - You work from a difficult photo.The portrait is coming to life nicely.:clap:

[larubia]

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/10-Nov-2011/75590-259.jpg Final image of my daughter as a mermaid.

[lovin art]

Arh , I see Martin ... thanks for the heads up ... Um ~Will my wonderful mate on here , swears by her work, hes even been taught by her I think !! : )

Annie , this is a pure joy for me to look at atm:heart: school has really taken a tole on me of late , you make me want to paint my daughter like this , but my own setting of course I could even use my oecan front as my prop... arh one day ...:D

[mnsrc]

Annmarie that is another fabulous, beautiful painting. You have a unique ability to paint modern subjects and give them great depth, especially in their expressions, and I love how your works at the same time have such a romantic transcendent feel to them.

[janeTuesday]

Larubia - that is nothing less than STUNNING!!! :thumbsup:

[JFountain]

Thanks for your comments definitely appreciated

[Lauren F-M]

Annemarie -- Wow! :eek: You've done a lot of work on your mermaid painting. Love it! :clap: Her body proportions work really well and I like how you've painted her. :thumbsup:
While I really like the seagulls, I think the one with its wings out right around her head really distracts; I'd remove it, and leave the other two. Just my 2 cents.

Here is the latest WIP shot of Susannah from our live Thursday morning sessions. Yesterday was the third of four sessions, so I have three more hours with the model in a week. Meanwhile, looking at the ref. photo I took last week, I see that I need to adjust the bridge of her nose... :rolleyes: Lots more to do, too. Hope I get it finished next week. 10" x 10" oil
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/11-Nov-2011/20772-Sus2_WIP3a_wc.jpg

[mnsrc]

Its coming along very nicely, Lauren! Here's progress so far on my portrait, doing my best to compensate for overexposure on the left side of the reference photo by improvising on that side of the drawing. Good thing I know him well so I have something to go on....

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/14-Nov-2011/207742-IMAG0548.jpg

P.S. Of course as soon as I post this I see a correction that needs to be made....

[mnsrc]

Getting there...http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/14-Nov-2011/207742-IMAG0552.jpg

[Lauren F-M]

Thanks, Martin! :D
I did more work on the profile painting and now am very frustrated with it, so am taking a break from it. :rolleyes:

Your portrait is looking wonderful! :clap: What character you have captured! :thumbsup:

[mnsrc]

Thanks, Martin! :D
I did more work on the profile painting and now am very frustrated with it, so am taking a break from it. :rolleyes:

Your portrait is looking wonderful! :clap: What character you have captured! :thumbsup:

Thanks Lauren! What a coincidence--I decided that I needed to shelve this portrait for a few days as well so I can look at it with fresh eyes. Now if I can just resist the temptation to fiddle with it before then!

[larubia]

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/22-Nov-2011/75590-349.jpg thought i'd finished before but living with it all the glaring errors drove me crazy...still not leased but really can do no more...thankyou kindly for the lovely comments:heart:

[dollardays]

Lauren: You may feel you need to adjust some things to get a likeness but you have really captured her stance and bone structure well. This is an awesome painting.

Larubia: I love everything about the painting except the seagull wrapping it's wing around her head. It is very distracting, as Laura mentioned.

[larubia]

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/30-Nov-2011/75590-23a.jpg started a painting of my beloved friend K who died in 2010 aged 47..still have a fair bit to do
Hi Dollardays..yah...the whole thing was a nightmare..not one of my best!Thankyou anyway:)

[NancyMP]

Anne Marie, you have inspired me! Now I need to do a portrait of my best friend. I did an alla prima of her a few years ago, but I gave it to her, and I would like one so that I have one, too.

Lauren, I think it would help your background in your profile painting if you broke it up some. Right now the smooth expanse of it takes up a little too much space, which lessens her dominance in the composition. Also, her posture looks a little off-balance in leaning back into the wicker chair. If you put a little more solidity on the back of the chair it would give her more balance. Otherwise, she is lovely, and your work is too!:D I look forward to the Challenge when you use her as a model!:)

As happens too much these daze, I'bn Tu Bizzy to do much in the way of portraits, but here is my swap painting of Jen (turpintine48)!

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/02-Dec-2011/203830-Jen_6.jpg

[123harry]

Lauren: Your latest portrait has a classical quality. Simple, poised, elegant.
Larubia: The portrait of your friend has a warm and affectionate feeling about it.
Martin: Intriguing to watch the character of you subject gradually emerging. Subtly done.
Nancy: An intimate and very engaging portrait of turpentine48. The light is very well conveyed. Very lifelike.

[mnsrc]

Thanks, Harry, and beautiful work, Lauren and Nancy.

Well, I've finished the face for the most part and am experimenting with backgrounds, so all input is greatly appreciated. What I've done is made a few copies of the face so that I can play around with the rest before adding it to the original. So what you see here is a possibility for the final version. What do you think? (on the right side, the thin white line in the background will be deleted). I'll be finishing it this weekend.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/02-Dec-2011/207742-IMAG0587.jpg

[larubia]

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/03-Dec-2011/75590-50a.jpg ..http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/03-Dec-2011/75590-372.jpg finished with the head of Karajan...need to work on dress and a pattern in the background...final version of mermaid.
HI nancyMP...Lovely lively portrait..the smile is terrific!
Hi Lauren..that is a dynamic head..love the muted colour.

[saintlukesguild]

Wow, Nancy! You certainly give that turpentine48 an engaging personality. A perfectly modeled face that is impish and challenging. Great flesh tones. I do think the background is top heavy for the chosen style of torso broad strokes bleeding into white canvas at the bottom. And (very much my personal preference) too cool. It swallows her head instead of projecting it. Still, a striking portrait in oil.

[NancyMP]

Thank you, saintlukesguild!

I'm starting on a WIP of a Salvation Army Major that I was lucky enough to see last Saturday evening at Hobby Lobby. I asked him if I could run home and get my camera to take pictures of him for painting, and he said fine. I have his card and he has mine now, so if I need to get a model's release I can email him.

This is where I've inked him in on the canvas with walnut ink, and next I'll do a thin, watercolor-like oil wash to check the tones. It was already dark, and he has a dark uniform, so some of his avoirdupois will be lost in the darkness. His face and the euphonium he plays so beautifully will be emphasized against the darkness. Now to erase the charcoal drawing...

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/06-Dec-2011/203830-Salvation_Army_Guy_inked_in.jpg

[Turpintine45]

What a wonderful character Nancy! He will be fun to do. Look forward to seeing the finish.

[saintlukesguild]

More about walnut ink, Nancy? Do you make your own or buy it? Don't think I've ever seen any on a shelf. I have given walnut stain some serious thought before, but never experimented. I recall my dad - way back - husking black walnuts to crack and pick the meat. His hands were stained for a month. Ahaaaa! Rembrandt used ink from gall buds on oak leaves. Sepia comes from some organ in a cuttlefish. American black walnuts might be the mother lode of dark ink. Unless it disappeared in unlight fast.

Just an idle thought that ran through my head.

The Major tooting the baritone is taking fine shape.

[Hockey Dad]

He tells police, when they ask if he knows what he has done..."yes ..I just shot John Lennon" ...MDC

Murdered 31 years ago tonight ..about this time..upon returning from the recording studio to The Dakota, NYC.

how sad... as earlier he signs a copy of his new record to his eventual killer..

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/08-Dec-2011/589052-john.jpg

A quick little charcoal tribute..:crying:

"If there's another world, he lives in bliss;
If there is none, he made the best of this."...RB


Irwin



.

[pinups]

Hello everyone,
I am a newbie to the forum and although I have already posted this in the main section I will share it here. Its on 20"x24" canvas and painted in acrylics. Its a WIP though and has about 10 hours of details left to be added in. Comments and critiques are welcome. I have attached the original photo this time also.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/08-Dec-2011/49185-girl.jpg http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/08-Dec-2011/49185-young_girl.jpg

[NancyMP]

More about walnut ink, Nancy? Do you make your own or buy it? Don't think I've ever seen any on a shelf. I have given walnut stain some serious thought before, but never experimented. I recall my dad - way back - husking black walnuts to crack and pick the meat. His hands were stained for a month. Ahaaaa! Rembrandt used ink from gall buds on oak leaves. Sepia comes from some organ in a cuttlefish. American black walnuts might be the mother lode of dark ink. Unless it disappeared in unlight fast.

Just an idle thought that ran through my head.

The Major tooting the baritone is taking fine shape.

Thak you, Jen, and saintlukesguild! I bought this ink at Dick Blick's. It's just called Walnut Drawing Ink, but on the side label it says Tom Norton Designs, 177 Cambridge Magazine Street, Cambridge, MA 02139. On the other side label it says 8.8 pH, Lightfast, A naturally derived walnut colored ink. Conforms to ASTM D-4236.

He might make it the same way your dad did! We don't have many walnut trees here, but lots of pecans, which also have a coating that blackens your hands.

I was interrupted by some medical troubles, but I intend to start the next phase on the major tomorrow!:D

[NancyMP]

Les, I love your start on this toddler, she is adorable. I hope in your last layer you restore the highlights, especially on that precious face. The darker colors are coming along richly and beautifully!

[NancyMP]

I've blocked in the background darks on the Major with Asphaltum, Prussian and Ultramarine blues, and OMS. It will be dry enough to start on detail work by tomorrow. Looks kinda dull now. I'm thinking of cropping it down later so that the lights balance the darks.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/../Community/images/10-Dec-2011/203830-Salvation_Army_Guy_blocked_in.jpg

[123harry]

Nancy: I like the bold underdrawing of the Salvation Army man.
Irwin:Nice tribute sketch. Lennon was part of the landscape of my teenage years.
Les:Beautifully delicate study of the little girl.

[123harry]

Eilidh on Skates

Our granddaughter in Brooklyn. We bought her skates for her seventh birthday. She's already pretty accomplished on them.
Preparatory study for a painting. Graphite and pencil on cartridge paper, 16 x 9 inches.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/11-Dec-2011/186003-WC_Eilidh_on_Skates_.jpg

[Hockey Dad]

Great stuff here..Larubia..a couple of stunners!..the models and the paintings!...wonderful ..Les..(scary good!)......Nancy,what a great seasonal treat itwill be to see this one as it develops !..wonderful drawing Harry ( as usual)..make sure your let us see the painting!
Irwin

[pinups]

Hello all,
thanks for the comments. I put 2 more hours into the painting tonight and it's getting closer to being down to final details. I hadn't posted the original photo beside the painting before and it really helped me notice things that required work when the two images were the same size. Comments and critiques are welcome.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/11-Dec-2011/49185-girl.jpg

[Leya Lakshmanan]

This is my first post in this forum. I found the portrait of this little boy at the back of an old Reader's Digest. Loved his smile, and hence painted him.

This is watercolour on 18"x11" paper. There are also highlights in black and golden ink, which are not really visible in this photograph of the painting.
C&Cs welcome.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Dec-2011/977705-The_Little_Emperor.JPG

[NancyMP]

Harry, your granddaughter is so :heart: adorable, and I love your drawing. I'm gonna love seeing you finish this charmer!

Les, that little girl is such a knockout - how do you keep the gradations so smoooooooth? Is it a pastel?:D

Leya, another one of a child, and I think I remember that Reader's Digest back cover. I used to collect them when they still had paintings. I stopped subscribing when they started using photos. I think his shy smile is well worth painting; lovely detailed work!:thumbsup:

Back to big guys, and I'm not kiddin' when I say BIG! Here's my second working of the Salvation Army guy, I'm thinking also of putting up some Christmas lights and a wreath in hte background, to give him some context. He was raising money for the homeless to have a nice Christmas, after all!

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/13-Dec-2011/203830-Salvation_Army_Guy_2.jpg

[dollardays]

I love this Nancy- I would keep the background images very understated if you do add them as he is wonderful and you don't want a lot of bright color distracting from him.

[NancyMP]

Here's my final effort on this guy; I wish I had not moved my camera when I shot him, or there would be more detail. I did put some faint lights in the sky, which aren't dry yet, so I don't know if I'll keep them - I just wanted to establish more depth in the background so he looks like he's outdoors.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/15-Dec-2011/203830-Salvation_Army_Guy_3.jpg

[Fleffyjen]

that's smashing Nancy! Really good sense of context, atmosphere and characterisation - well done

[jachang]

Wow, so many fabulous portraits here. I'm going to have to go back and spend some time looking at them.

Here is my son as he looked 38 years ago as a baby:
Watercolor - Fabriano Artistico soft press 11 x 14
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/16-Dec-2011/208504-IMG_0642.jpg
Naturally, I then had to paint my daughter -- 37 years ago
Watercolor Arches cold press 11 x 14
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/16-Dec-2011/208504-P1010487a.jpg
This is a recent graphite sketch of her:
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/16-Dec-2011/208504-Liane.jpg
I've done a few more over the past couple of months--will post later.

C & C always very welcome! Thanks.

[kevinwueste]

Nancy that's great !
Love the baby watercolors Jean
Harry - a solid study - ready for the painting to begin I think!
Leya - nicely done - could use a bit more feeling of form but that may be an aesthetic decision on your part!
Les - she looks great - thank you for the update describing the how of this work in your portrait thread ( i was having a panic attack!) - (ok not really)

Kevin

[NancyMP]

Thank you, Jen!

Jean, I think you have painted some family heirlooms here! I love the sketch, too, she really is a charmer!

[jachang]

Kevin and Nancy,
Thank you both very much for your kind comments. I hope more people will post their work. I really enjoy seeing the different styles.

Jean

[ArtofAndrewDaniel]

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/18-Dec-2011/70698-Alice-Reading-Andrew-Daniel.jpg
My Wife Alice While She Reads 10" x 8" (25cm x 20cm) oil/canvas board

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/18-Dec-2011/70698-Chelsea-By-Andrew-Daniel.jpg
Chelsea 10" x 8" (25cm x 20cm) oil/wood panel

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/18-Dec-2011/70698-Chelsea-in-Red-Andrew-Daniel.jpg
Chelsea in Red oil/canvas 12"x9"(30cm x 23cm)

Here's a few Nov/Dec portraits I'm happy with. I have been experimenting a lot with what kind of brush stokes and approach I take lately. It's fun, because it keeps things fresh and challenging/confusing!

Looking forward to seeing more work from you all. I am very impressed with the talent so far!!

[jachang]

Here is an oil on canvas 16X20 that I finished. It was my first portrait and was very special, the girl on the left is in Iraq and this was the only photo her dad (middle) had of him and his daughters. He cried when he picked it up and of course I cried also.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Nov-2011/975939-portrait_3.jpg

Wow, it's difficult enough for me to get one person in a portrait, but to have three of them all looking so good is quite a feat! Nice work!

[jachang]

All three are very nice--and different styles from each other. My favorite is "Chelsea in Red." I prefer the smoothness of the strokes for portraiture. I like the contemplative pose, too.

[ArtofAndrewDaniel]

NancyMP - Love your salvation army player! Such a sweet slice of life!

Jean - Your baby portraits are charming!

[jules34]

Thanks so much for the comments Jean. I do love the baby pics, but that sketch is what really caught my eye, it's amazing how you can almost "feel" the texture of the sweater.

[NancyMP]

Kevin and Andrew, thank you both for your compliments! I enjoyed painting him.

There is a lot of charm, ease and elegance in "Chelsea in Red!"

[ArtofAndrewDaniel]

Thanks Nancy!

[thirteensparrows]

Here are my two WIP I have been working with acrylic which has been somewhat frustrating . I love it and I hate it :lol: I have not painted anything for a couple years and finally made the space to start again because I wanted to make a portrait for a friends 100th birthday . It is awesome to just focus and paint I forgot how hypnotizing it is . I really want to add color to these but I am worried it will ruin them . It has been great browsing this forum and so far I have been drawn mostly to these portraits . There is some beautiful work on here thank you for sharing ithttp://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/21-Dec-2011/983185-resized_port.jpg

C&Cs Welcome and appreciated

[jules34]

Thirteen- They look wonderful, but I notice that the left eye seems to be too far to the right, unless of course that is how she actually looks. I had that experience with the one I have on here, one of the girls had a slightly drooped eye and I had a few people say it was off but that was actually how she looks.

[thirteensparrows]

Why thank you Jules , Yes I was thinking this too . Hopefully another sitting or two will remedy this as her birthday is in a two weeks . Also has anyone found a trick for teeth ?

[crafor]

HI, this is my first portrait in this section. Her name is Dawn. 16x20, oil on canvas. I tried several times to put it into both of the critique forums and wasn't able to, I hope it uploads here. All crits and comments, suggestions welcome so I can improve. One question in particular is about her dark brown eyes. On the photo, only one eye has a highlight, but should there be the other light?What's it called--as the light goes through the eye? I can't see that either on the highlighted eye. And if so, what color? Brown, yellow, orange?
(This is also a new camera, first I've owned in many years, so am learning about it, too.)
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/22-Dec-2011/978289-P1010008.jpg

Thanks for looking, and your comments.
Crafor

[crafor]

A WIP: My second daughter when she was 4, a bunch of years ago, at the Starfish Pond at Sea World in San Diego.Oil on canvas, 16 x 20
Skin color done first with terre verte, then lead white. Next will come some yellow ochre and venetian red. I wasn't satisfied with most of the background and whited it out. I think I need to add more white before trying again on the water. All comments, crits, suggestions welcome.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/22-Dec-2011/978289-Nancy_Sea_World_1.JPG

Thanks in advance.
Crafor

[crafor]

The woman who commissioned the painting of DAWN, (who is) her daughter, picked it up today. She loved it, especially the eyes! I had it in a frame on the mantle, and she just repeated, "Oh, My" several times. It is a Christmas gift for her son-in law.
I'm so pleased it is a success.
Crafor

[crafor]

Yesterday's (Dec 23) work on this. Today I will work on sand, rocks, and starfish. Hard c&c welcome.
Crafor
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/24-Dec-2011/978289-Nancy_WIP_Dec_23__2.JPG

[pinups]

great job Nancy and Jean.

[crafor]

Update on the painting of my daughter at SeaWorld. I worked on the water, the rocks, starfish. Lots more to do, but I feel I'm making progress.
Crits and comments welcome.
Crafor
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/25-Dec-2011/978289-Nancy_SeaW_WIP_4.JPG

[KATartist]

hi ... luv painting portraits !!! one of my most recent works .:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/26-Dec-2011/983896-Picture_161.jpg

[KATartist]

painting on ... :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/26-Dec-2011/983896-Picture_119.jpg

[KATartist]

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/26-Dec-2011/983896-Picture_154.jpg

[123harry]

Nancy: The sally Army man has a bold, solid and rather jovial presence. Captures the season as well as the person.
Leya: A quaintly decorative study of the boy with a lot of life in the expression.
Crafor: A lively painting of the bride. The portrait of your daughter has a nice setting and it's an interesting pose. I'm assuming that there is work to be done on the hand holding the starfish. At the moment the creature itself reads as the hand, which is slightly disturbing!
Jean: Two lovely keepsakes of the kids.
Andrew: I like the studies of Chelsea. Fresh is an accurate description. Lots of light in the face study and the red dress makes a bold and arresting composition.
KATartist: I like these portraits. they are direct and lifelike. There is a hint of the late van Gogh in them, no bad thing!

[crafor]

Crafor: A lively painting of the bride. The portrait of your daughter has a nice setting and it's an interesting pose. I'm assuming that there is work to be done on the hand holding the starfish. At the moment the creature itself reads as the hand, which is slightly disturbing!

Thanks for your comments, Harry. It took me a long time to start the bridal portrait, because of all the white. Then it was the canopy and beams that I had the hardest time with. I will be working on the starfish painting in a day or two. I'll post the results of that as well as the photo references for it and my other wip. Nancy was just a little over 4yo. The fish was so large it was laying on her hand, which is curled under it. THAT photo is why I started painting again. To do it. Again, thanks for your comments. They are appreciated. If this section is closed before I finish it, I'll post it in the lower section here.
Crafor

[larubia]

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/03-Jan-2012/75590-297a.jpg ...http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/03-Jan-2012/75590-521.jpg worked on both of them..fini.

[larubia]

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/26-Jan-2012/75590-534.jpg ....worked on this one...feels like her now.