"Viola Solo" (oil on stretched canvas; 14" x 18") sold

sold

Aldwin is a high-school senior and talented musician who plays the viola, guitar and piano and also sings in the school choir.  As I was listening to his solo performance of Max Bruch's "Romanze for Viola" during the winter concert of the Washington Metropolitan Youth Orchestra at the beautiful auditorium of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, I was impressed by his poised mastery of his instrument.

"Jacques Brel" (oil on stretched canvas; 10" x 8")

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The late Jacques Brel, my favorite muse, was a Belgian singer, songwriter and actor who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following—initially in Belgium and France, later throughout the world. He was widely considered a master of the modern chanson.

The portrait is based on a black-and-white CD cover.  Considering that I had to make up the colors, I did a pretty good job, don't you think?

"Melodious" (oil on linen; 9" x 12") nfs

nfs

This portrait of my daughter practicing the flute started out as a black-and-white exercise for Danni Dawson's portrait painting class.  I decided to turn it into a regular portrait in color.  It is a small painting for a half-length portrait with a musical instrument and all!  By the way, she was playing C. Chaminade's "Concertino"--a romantic, dramatic, and difficult piece.  She is enraptured in the beauty of the music!

"Flute Practice"

"Flute Practice" (oil on linen; 9" x 12") nfs

NFS

My daughter in flute practice.  She is playing C. Charminade's "Concertino"--a dreamy, dramatic, and difficult piece.  She is enraptured in the beauty of the music!

Why black and white?  It is the class assignment by Danni Dawson.  I was allowed to use only three "colors"--white, Torrit gray, and black.  Torrit gray is by Gamblin, made from the previous year's leftover paints.  It varies from year to year.  This year's batch seems quite warm, so I decided to use it for the skin tone, flute, and background.  The hair and shirt were painted with ivory black and the cool gray mixtures of the black and titanium white.  I must say I enjoyed the challenge!

The black and white palette: ivory black, Torrit gray, and titanium white.

I started blocking in.  This year's Torrit gray seems quite warm.  Compare it (the background color) with the cool gray mixed with ivory black and titanium white.  It will be good for the skin tone in this extremely limited palette painting.

"Flute Practice" is all blocked in.

A little more developed.

"Sasha" (oil on linen; 12" x 12") sold

sold

To say that Sasha, originally from Russia, is a junior at my daughter's high school would be a correct, but gross understatement.  As a sophomore, she was already the concertmaster of the top orchestra in the school.  I have heard about her from my daughter, but never saw her until last December when I went to a fundraiser concert at a local bookstore.  The main program of the performance was by the jazz band, something I always look forward to for its relaxed atmosphere and excellent music.

Before the jazz music, however, I was happily surprised to be treated to Sasha's solo performance.  Oh, my!  She was poised and beautiful as you can see in her portrait.  Her performance was even more dazzling.  Years of practice must have gotten into her level of musicianship.  Talented?  Yes.  But I always put more stock to single-minded dedication.  As a parent of a young musician myself, I was proud of Sasha as if she were my own daughter. Thank you, Sasha, for your great performance!