Graduation Gift Received

Collin's graduation party was a great success. He loves the portrait I painted of him but I know he really liked the flat screen TV the most. I ask Collin if he wanted to hang the portrait of him in his dorm but he told me, "He wanted me to hang onto it so nothing happens to it!" I had to giggle because I was hoping he would say that. I didn't want one of his new room mates throwing darts or doing something mischievous to ruin it. Here's a picture of Collin with his portrait!

Completing My Son's Portrait

My son's portrait is complete, however, I still have this urge to make some minor adjustments. Since I consider myself a novice artist I fear those adjustments could make the painting worse than before. On the other hand, since I am still learning I need to force myself to experiment. My son graduated from high school recently and I plan to give him this portrait as a gift. However, I'm sure he'll love the flat screen tv I plan on getting him for his dorm at college much more!

It's Getting There!

I have been waiting patiently for this painting to dry (which is the most difficult part of this process) before moving to the next layer of paint. I have been reading how glazing can greatly enhance a painting. Since this is a learning process for me I'm not quite sure where, how much, or color selection to glaze with so I will keep posting my process. I am happy with how this painting is progressing. My wish is that it would look more realistic, however, I can certainly say it is way better than my acylic portrait I did a year ago. Practice does make a difference!

A Bite Of Information!

I have been reading online how to avoid painting teeth because of how difficult they are to paint...boy, how right they were. However, I actually prefer a smiling face rather than a somber one. I am sure with lots of practice it will become easier. Another thing that caught my eye while I was weeding through "The do's and don't's of painting" some artist think painting from a picture isn't art because you cannot capture the essence of the person you're painting. I can see their point of view but since I am still learning I feel a photo is as good of a place to start. I will say this I constantly strive to do better and to learn as much as I can through reading, watching, and practice. I feel art is ever evolving in tools and resources and some individuals implement what is preferred, comfortable, or what they know how to do. For example, I have had no art education and I feel that limits me because of the lack of knowledge and know how but I am not letting that cripple me because I have a deep desire to learn more and want to strive to get better. What I don't like about art critics or people that criticize your works of art is the negativity they spread. In my opinion, if you love to paint DO IT whether people like what you do or not... Do it for YOURSELF! One of the reasons I want to paint is to have something to give to my kids and future generations of grandchildren. Hopefully, it will inspire one them to become an amazing artist one day! I feel Art is an important part of our culture and it is a shame that most schools do not recognize it as a major part of student core curriculm as with Math, Science, and English. Ok...I'll step down from my soap box now!

Portrait Continued...

My First Oil Portrait!

 
This is my latest project. I enjoyed working with oil on my last painting thought I would give it another try. The portrait is of my son. Since his graduation is right around the corner I thought he might like a painting of himself...RIGHT :)
 
Painting a portrait in oils have been a challenge, however, I love the creamy texture and the ease of blending. On the flip side, I am impatient and want to keep painting and find that the colors get muddy. So I guess I need to wait for layers to dry before I move on. I'll post more pictures as I go.

First Oil Painting!

Working with oils are definitely different from acrylic. However, there are some pluses and minus to each as I'm sure I'll discover along the way. One of the things I really like about acrylic is the fast drying time which allows me to paint longer. On the other hand, I also like the slow drying time of oil which allows me time away from my painting to make adjustments later on. Oil also forces me to slow down and concentrate more which is a daughting task since I'm impatient. The painting below is my first attempt at working with oils. As for my inspiration, I used a photograph I had taken of my daughter several years ago and decided to try something a little different when creating this painting. I wanted to work with only a few different shades of color since my last painting was all about color. I had thought about a monochromatic feel but wanted to experiment with a few more colors. As a result, I thought the painting was alright but lacking. It may have been my color selection but, whatever! I'll chalk it up to learning since it was a practice painting anyway. What I love about painting is the challenge and accomplishment of a finished piece. Even though the painting may not always come out the way you imagine it in your mind...there is always something new you learn along the way about yourself and your art!