"A Life Led and A Life Beginning" (oil on linen; 12" x 9") sold

sold

"A Life Led and A Life Beginning" is for Liz.  I was excited and honored to paint this special double portrait as the first commission painting of 2014.  The painting portrays Liz's 90-year-old father-in-law and his 10-month-old great granddaughter.  

Curtis was born in Virginia as one of 12 children.  He has been a minister of God for 62 years. He has been married to his wife, Alma, for 62 years.  Together they had two children: Liz's husband and a daughter, Wendy.  Wendy's son is the proud daddy of Emma. 

Curtis is a quiet soul who loves the Lord and has lived his life for others.  He loves his family and has always tried to see the best in all.  He has been ill with Alzheimer's for several years. He sometimes recognizes his family and other times he doesn't, but still can quote scripture and preach his sermons from years ago.

Emma maybe the only 4th generation he will ever meet, so this portrait is very special to Liz's family.  She wished that I capture Curtis's gentle, kind eyes and soul and the sweetness and innocence of little Emma.  The title of the painting was her inspiration.  I did my uttermost to fulfill her wish.

"Southern Gentleman" (oil on linen; 14" x 11") sold

sold

Today I have a great news to share.  My painting, "Southern Gentleman," got juried into the October figurative show at the Art League in Alexandria, VA.  It's a double honor.  I don't paint figures often, so getting into a figure show is a big deal.  Besides, the juried shows at the Art League are fiercely competitive.  This acceptance marks the third time since July: making three shows out of four definitely calls for a celebration!

I painted "Southern Gentleman" during the three-day workshop with Robert Liberace at the Art League School in Alexandria, VA in March 2012.  Rob is a big name in today's figurative painting in the country.  Just watching him paint was a thrilling experience. The workshop was called "The Painterly Sketch: Advanced Alla-Prima Portrait".

Alla Prima, or "premier coup," is a way of painting that involves the direct application of color without an elaborate underpainting.  Great painters such as Frans Hals and John Singer Sargent, or the contemporary master Richard Schmid, are often linked to this direct, daredevil approach to painting.

On the last day of the head-spinning workshop, I had about two hours left to paint the elderly model.  Speaking of pressure!  The model came for the sitting, dressed in a southern gentleman's outfit.  What fun!  He was a kind, Civil-War buff, who reminded me of Colonel Sanders.

I am happy to report that Rob was impressed with my final effort; so was I.  In particular, he liked the way I handled the forehead of the model and his costume. He said something about "sophisticated"!  I was in heaven.  Now that the painting also made the Art League show, I am doubly proud!