Study for portrait

This is a sketchbook study for a portrait of Jo. It's my second study and I think at the moment it will be the one I use as a reference for the painting. I like the direction of the gaze and the turn of the head. I also like the strong light falling on her face. I look forward to making a start on Monday after a grim weekend catching up on paperwork :( 

Hope you have a better weekend ahead! 

'Peter' finished

'Peter'

8" x 8"

oil on board

SOLD

I'm glad to tell you that all went more or less to plan and I finished 'Peter' this afternoon :) I'm happy that I've managed to retain the lively brushwork and haven't tightened up too much when rendering some of the finer detail. I'm also satisfied that I've captured some of Peter's inner qualities that are reflected in his face which is the thing I strive to achieve when painting a portrait. 'Peter' is No 10 in my 'Collection of Faces' series.

More work on 'Peter'

I worked on 'Peter' this afternoon. At one stage the painting reminded me of a patchwork quilt with brushmarks all over the place...like organised chaos! (I like to think it was organised at any rate) Then all of a sudden..yay!...incoherence became coherence...phew! If all goes to plan I will post him finished tomorrow.

'Peter' stage 1

8" x 8"

oil on board

Ok...back to portraits. I started  'Peter' this morning and have now completed this first stage. I wiped over the canvas with a very thin layer of yellow ochre but instead of my usual burnt sienna and cadmium red, I've used a violet grey for the under drawing as I wanted a cooler base colour to work over. I made the violet grey mix with rose madder, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue and a little titanium white. I took my time with this value stage and worked until I was satisfied I'd captured something of the innate qualities of Peter.  I like to arrive at a stage when I have achieved not only a recognisable appearance but when I feel I can read aspects of character, personality and spirit in the subject I'm painting. 

'Wedding Boots' finished

'Wedding Boots'

8" x 8" 

oil on board

SOLD

I managed to finish 'Wedding Boots' just in time to take a photo in the daylight...I know, I know...I'm always racing against the fading light to take a photo, but I so much prefer taking photos of my paintings in daylight rather than artificial light. You'll just have to learn to finish earlier I can hear you saying, but it doesn't seem to work like that...while there's light I work, and most of the time right up to the last minute!

'Wedding Boots' in progress

8" x 8"

oil on board

I did more to 'Wedding Boots' this afternoon. I'm happy with the way it's going but I need some stronger contrasts in places and I have still to complete the face. I'm having to invent alot in the way of tonal value and colour as I've moved quite a long way from the image I'm using and so it's not providing all the information I need...a bit like feeling your way in the dark!

'Wedding Boots'

8" x 8"

oil on board

drawing stage

I haven't abandoned the portraits, I'm just making a small diversion before I begin the next one. 'Wedding Boots' is a painting I've been planning to do for a while. Last summer I attended a friend's wedding and the bride was wearing a pair of the most gorgeous boots!...they were just crying out to be painted!! This is my progress so far. Work has to stop now until Thursday as tomorrow I'm teaching all day at my workshops. 

By the way...I'm running an all day Portrait Workshop Sunday 12th May the cost of which is £20. The venue is the usual one at Sturton by Stow. If anyone is interested in attending please contact me asap as places are limited.