You can do a great drawing just by emphasizing value and light. Here you see a five minute drawing of my wife, Norene, with charcoal. I drew very basic shapes — head, lips, nose, eyes and hairline. Next I squinted to see the shapes of the shadows. I blocked them in — the right side of the face, under the chin, under the bottom lip, the top lip, above the eyelids, then the hair. On the left side of the picture you’ll see dark shading right next to the hair. I always put that against the side that is lit.
Filed under Drawing Technique by on . 3 Comments. 
I had been in Michigan all week teaching art and preparing for a show. I had paintings all ready to go, but wanted to add another one. I tried to finish it up, but I couldn’t stand my results. I decided not to enter it, but instead, I wanted to paint over it.
I was at my daughter’s house. I asked her to sit next to a window so I could get natural light. This portrait is what was painted.
Note the color of her hair and face on the left side. It is painted white because that is what I actually saw as the outside light illumnated her face. Next, look at her eyes. As the light shines through the irises, the right sides lighten up to a light yellow. There is a highlight on the eye on the left. It is on the white of the eye and crosses slightly into the iris. These techniques give life to them.
Filed under Portrait Painting Technique by on . 7 Comments.
Since I was a little kid I have been bored with “scenery” pictures. My dad would show slides he took. I loved the ones with people in them, but he stared forever at the scenery shots. Because of that, I’ve been more interested in painting people, buildings, and cars than landscapes.
This may have changed last Sunday night when our son and his wife drove us on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia.
This painting portrays a typical scene along the drive. Note the atmospheric perspective as the mountains become bluer and more faded the further out they go. Then the lone tree stands starkly silhouetted in the foreground. These things give depth to the painting.
I will say I was charmed with the scenery.
Filed under My Inspiration by on . 5 Comments.
I love doing oil paintings. What I enjoy the very most is portraits. I feel that if you can do a portrait you can do anything.
This portrait is of a very wonderful woman. LaDawn is a fantastic wife and mother. She is active in her church and her community. She is extremely creative. She loves people and has many friends. I think the world is a much better place because of her.
I enjoyed doing her portrait because I know her personality. I feel like she is a light to the world, so I expressed this with the light on her face. I had her next to a window on the left side, but the indoor light was on which lit the right side. The outside light is “cool” light and has a bluish tint because of the sky. The indoor light gives off a yellow or “warm” light.
You will see shadows and highlights which give dimension to her face. There are two little dots of white in her eyes. These highlights bring the painting to life.
Filed under Portrait Painting Technique by on . 3 Comments.
I went fishing in a farm pond recently. While I tried to concentrate on catching something, my two grandchildren were hanging on my legs, jabbering away at me, asking if they could fish, if I could get them a worm on their hook, and telling me it was their turn to fish.
There are some painting techniques I wanted to mention. First, there is definite atmospheric perspective. You can see depth because the weeds are painted over the top of my grandson. This gives the illusion that the weeds are in front of him, while my granddaughter is painted on top of some other weeds. They look further away than she is.
The lake looks wet. It reflects the sky. I have painted a mirror image of the trees that are above the shore directly below. If you look at the clothes you can see shadows and highlights and some wrinkles. This keeps the objects from looking flat. There is dimension to them.
Filed under Oil Painting Technique by on . 3 Comments.
Recent Comments