A Commissioned Portrait

For the last few weeks I have been hard at work on a portrait commission.  Apparently, someone at a local frame shop recommended me. Luckily, I had a few paintings in the gallery and the referring framer and the client were able to gauge whether or not I was up to the task.  When I delivered his portrait of himself and his wife the client said he "thought it better than he could have ever imagined".  I was worried it was not up to the task and now realize a few things I was not aware of before.  One such thing is that technical matters are actually very trivial in the real sense- what is far more important is the vision, resolve and expression. Perhaps I already knew that.....?  In about 6 months I will contact the client and offer to varnish the painting thus bringing it to it's final appearance.  At that time perhaps he may have noticed some little tweaks for me to attend to and I will be happy to address them.  A portrait is a serious thing and as a painter I stand by my work for as long as I am able.  Kinda cool in that I was not aware of such a commitment option in the past. I kinda thought, "when it leaves the door that's the end of it".  That does not have to be the case and it is probably better for the artist that he take the attitude I have.   

New Painting.
"Two"
Oil on Canvas
28 inches by 35 inches
$500.00

I had a bit of a delay in completing this one.  Still here it is.  On to the next one.  In the coming weeks I may find that I want to tweak a picture or learn something new that I could incorporate.  Will have no hesitation in doing so.  Working in a deliberate fashion affords some good artistic advantages.   

Started a new painting

Began a new painting yesterday.  It will be another 28 x 35" canvas and also a floral theme.  Actually, it can serve as a 2nd in a series of sepia toned floral closeups in a 4x5 shape ratio.  Disorganized studio is slowing me down.  These new paintings are larger than I planned for storage wise.  I guess I will first take up all available wall space and then.... construct a rack. 

"Peonies in Sepia Tones"

 

"Peonies in Sepia Tones"  35 by 28 inches  Oil on canvas $500.00

Completed a new painting today.  In keeping with the trends and preserving the surface texture of O'keefe and the Moderns, I visited the Target retail store on Howard and McCormick streets and saw that they had 2 or 3 sepia tone canvas prints for sale in the home decor section.  I liked the look of both of them!  Still, they were merely photos touched up using computerized software then enlarged and printed on canvas to look as if they were paintings.  The manufacturer is not fooling very many with these phony paintings but it does point to a desire amongst the public.  They want paintings.  I figure I will simply give them what they want but in a genuine form and of course I shall pick the trend I most appreciate.  Apparently, the "sepia tone" style has gone national...even international and I am along for the ride!  

New Painting for May 2012 "Nautilus Spiral"

 

"Nautilus Spiral"

oil on linen 12x12" $ NFS

New painting. Been reading about the golden section lately and it's naturally occurring spirals which occurs in the nautilus shell among other forms.  This coincided with my mother picking up a book on Thomas Gainsborough for me which I found interesting. Gainsborough along with James McNeil Whistler, Georgia O'Keefe and many of the "Modern" painters obtained a delightful surface texture as seen during many visits to the Museum of the Chicago Art Institute.  I set out to obtain that texture here and was successful. Thanks go to Southern Illinois University at Carbondale's painting instruction from back around the year 2000. Rock and roll! Now that I have a solid technique it is on to increasing the sizes of my paintings (in the manner of O'Keefe) and negotiating trends a bit more assertively ...

YeeHa!    

"Expresso Elegante"

                                                   Expresso Elegante' Oil on Linen 12x12" $300.00
This one went easy and direct.  I was actually setting up a new still life and taking down the previous when I spotted an accidental arrangement of the previous items.  I immediately started working on it rather than put it on the back burner.  This one is influenced by a study of Raphael's early period approach.  Recent studies have shown scientifically some information regarding paint vehicles and layers.  It appears as expected to be closely related to egg tempera in technique but in oils from top to bottom.  That period and a bit earlier too has always been a favorite.  The paint much thinner and realism a bit relaxed and decorative.... I like it.

New Drawing..."Loneliness"

                          "Study for Loneliness" 2012, 5x5 inches chalk and graphite on paper  $150.00

This one is about a sense of separation perhaps, forced or through exclusion-social/economic etc.  The feeling one is likely to have when their significant other is "locked away" or turns away.  Don't know where this emotion is coming from but Valentine's day came around and I had a sort of gush.... going with it. Ed Paschke was at my first Chicago art show shortly before his death and he mentioned that art must begin with emotion if it's charms are expected to last.  I have taken his communication to heart ever since....even if technical problems have been a prime concern.