Expressive Portraits

During 2016, I started a new series, "expressive portraits", inspired by the great head sculptures of  the 18th century artist Franz Messerschmidt, example below.
                                                   
                                                
 I was amazed to see such work done prior to the advent of the camera, as well as work that looked so contemporary despite being about 250 years old!

My own painted portraits are, so far, less extreme expressions, but aim to capture emotional moments, with a gentle comedic edge to them.  They have been fun to create and I'm working on more.  Here they are, so far:

Title:  "I'll be the judge of that..."

(model:  the artist)

 

Bummer

      Kiss me!

   

The Scold

International Artist Magazine article

I'm pleased to report that an article on my work will appear in the International Artist Magazine in their Oct./Nov. 2016 edition.  See the cover above along with the first page of the article.

Two Guys and Three Beers

        Latest painting, oil, 18" X 30"

First finished painting in which I've included both faces and hands.

New focus on the portrait

    The self portraits above and below, neither of which is completely finished (and which I may never finish), are a result of some recent additional studies with Jeff Hein (Hein Academy, Salt Lake City) with a focus on the portrait.
    Self portraits are a great way to practice but can be boring, so I decided to try doing portraits with off-beat expressions, for the fun of it.  These two are the result, so far.

Latest Paintings

 "Portrait of a A Man (Incomplete)"

43" X 36"

Oil on panels

  "Loves me?  Loves me not?"

20" X 30"

Oil on panel

"Waiting" 

 24" X 36"

Oil on canvas

The paintings above are currently being shown at the Meyer Gallery in Park City.

More paintings for the Jan. 2014 Meyer Gallery Show

 After Dinner for Two

Oil on Board, 20" X 16"

 Comfort Food

Oil on Board, 12" X 24"

 Emily's Fantasy

Oil on canvas, 24" X 12"

Emily's Reality

Oil on Board, 24" X 12"

Updated painting for Meyer Gallery Show

 Even the Little Brown Bird (Retouched)

This is a painting I originally completed back in 2008, my last painting prior to starting to the 2 1/2 years I spent at the Hein Academy.  The Meyer Gallery suggested that I re-touch it, drawing on the skills that I picked up during my Hein Academy training.  The original painting is below.  You'll notice that I especially went back into the images of:  the woman's shoulders, the woman's fet, the black pants, the white undershirt, the green tee shirt and the hat.  I only went back into the background on the other parts of the painting.  I think you'll notice a reasonable difference.  I do. 

Even the Little Brown Bird, Original from 2008

   If someone asked me what the biggest difference my training made in my work, I would say, "values (as in contrast of lights and darks), as well as better understanding the value of painting, to the best of my ability, the color exactly as I see it."  These two things particularly show up in the two panels containing flesh tones and in the green shirt.  They show up in the other panels, as well, but not so obviously.  Those two and a half years at the Hein Academy made all the difference for me.

More pieces ready for Jan. Show

   For the past several months, I have been preparing work for a  show at the Meyer Gallery in Park City, UT, opening Jan. 3rd.  Below are some of the pieces done for show.  Two of the pieces are diptychs.  The other is another multipanel painting.  You'll notice a little change in the two hands, previously seen on the last blog post.  Went back into them, partly because I heard from more than one person that the item in one of the hands looks like a chocolate chip cookie!  I hope it's clearer now.

 "Old Friends", each panel 12" X 24" Oil on board

These two people are friends whom I and my husband admire.  They are both in their late 80s or early 90s, accomplished people yet now "wounded birds" as they refer to themselves.  Despite their disabilities related to age (hearing, sight and balance problems), they are always gracious towards others and interesting in conversation.  They are my models in life and in art.

 "On the one hand, on the other...", each panel 10" X 14", Oil on board

"That's nice, dear", Multipanel on grid, 43" X 39", Oil on board

On the one hand, on the other

Just finished this diptych.  Each painting is 10" X 14".

On the hand.  On the Other.

 On the one hand

On the other

Ode to Objects

 This is the painting I've submitted as an entry in the 2013 Springville Salon.  Called "Ode to Things", it is based on the Pablo Neruda poem by the same name.

Below are selected. individual panels from the painting.

"Conversation" given another award - and another new painting

             First, it was just announced that my painting, The Conversation, also won the "People's Choice Award" in the Springville Museum Spring Salon, a first for me. 

Second, below is my latest finished painting, "Comfort Food".   I liked the impact of the use of hands in "The Conversation" to enliven a painting that was otherwise pure still life, and decided to use it again.

"Comfort Food", Oil on board, 11 1/2" X 20"

The Conversation wins Springville Salon Award

Learned today that "The Conversation" was given an Award of Merit in the Springville Spring Salon.  The image here is of the painting hanging in the show.  The color of the wall behind the painting couldn't be better.  The Spring Salon at the Springville Museum of Art is the best annual competitive show of living Utah artists.  It was an honor for me to receive it and a confirmation that all the training at the Hein Academy of Art(http://www.jeffreyhein.com/blog/hein-academy-of-art/) in Salt Lake City was worth all the time and effort. 

First painting since leaving Hein Academy

The Conversation, 2012

This painting, a multi-panel oil painting on wood panels, measures about 46" X 46".  This is the first serious painting completed since leaving the Jeff Hein Academy in May of 2011 and since our return to Salt Lake City last October.  Next projects will be smaller and thus should come out of the studio a little faster!