"After Vermeer's 'Milkmaid'" (oil on gessoboard; 10" x 8") sold

sold

You may recognize that the above painting is detail of the Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer's "Milkmaid" (circa 1658).  The original hangs in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, which regards it as "one of the museum's finest attractions"

My copy is a class assignment by Danni Dawson, painted over the period of several weeks.  We were learning the grisaille method of monochrome underpainting, which was used extensively by most Old Masters in the past.  We did the underpainting with burnt sienna and ivory black paint; a thick layer of white paint went over the underpainting; then, finally, thin layers of glazes of other colors were laid on to bring out the glow.

If you mess up the underpainting, no matter what fancy glazing work you do, there isn't much you can do to rescue the mess.  But over the beautifully-done underpainting, all you need is a small amount of pigments to finish off the painting.  That is how the Old Masters maximized the effect of expensive pigments.  I must say it is a tedious way of painting, but there is no denying the exquisite glow the glazed paintings have.

"Gazelle" (oil on stretched canvas; 20" x 16")

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Here is another portrait I painted in a two-week period in May in Danni Dawson's portrait painting class.  The beautiful African-American model posed in a purple dress she made herself.  I had fun painting her braided hair as well as the satiny fabric.

"Baseball Player" (oil on stretched canvas; 14" x 11")

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As I took a month off from blogging, not from painting, I have a backlog of paintings to share.  The above portrait was done in two-week periods during Danni Dawson's portrait painting class. 

The handsome model posed as a baseball player at rest, without a shirt.  Cropped as a head-and-shoulders portrait, it didn't quite make sense.  So I made him up as the St. Louis Cardinals player!  Somehow, I dropped the letter "t" in the cap; my apologies to the Cardinals fans.  Don't you like the model's sly, side-long glance?

"Clare" (oil on stretched canvas; 16" x 12")

I was happy to be back in Danni Dawson's portrait painting class yesterday.  The beautiful model who was dressed in a tutu got me all excited.  Regretting not having a larger canvas, I finished off a 16" x 12" one as a sketch.  Next week I will work on a more decent-sized canvas for real!

By the way, Danni gave me a high rating to the spring break homework, "Primavera".  She found in the painting nothing to criticize and everything to praise!

"Primavera" (oil, 18" x 24")

"Civil War Union Lieutenant Colonel" (oil on stretched canvas; 18" x 14")

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You may remember Steve, a military history buff and reenactment actor who also models.  I have painted his head-and-shoulders portrait a few weeks ago.  I decided to paint him again in a half-length format to show his Civil-War Union lieutenant colonel uniform with his sword, buckle and all. 

Many paintings go through "I can't take this crap of a painting any more"; I hit the wall in the last week's session.  I, however, persevered and was able to finish it yesterday.  I could have developed those authentic buttons more, but was afraid of them distracting the viewer from Steve's thoughtful, weathered face with a wonderful beard.  So I suggested rather than defined them.  I rather like the portrait.  How about you?

"Civil War Lieutenant Colonel" (oil on stretched canvas; 14" x 11")

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Steve is a military history buff and reenactment actor who also models.  He is costumed as a Civil-War lieutenant colonel in this portrait.  There was a little flutter of excitement last Thursday as a couple of gentlemen approached me at the Art League Gallery in Alexandria, VA.  They admired this painting, quite wet and yet unfinished, and showed an interest in purchasing it.  To my disappointment, they never called me back; nevertheless, I felt flattered at the compliment.

"Belly Dancer" (oil on stretched canvas; 12" x 9")

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This beautiful woman is a professional belly dancer.  She was wearing her costume with sequins and all, but I had only time for a small head-and-shoulders portrait.  Two-day sessions are not enough for a full-length portrait, but gave me a sufficient time to mess up her mouth: her gentle smile now looks like a smirk!

"Troy" (oil on stretched canvas; 10" x 8")

"Troy"

After Week I

After the school closing due to the blizzard that dumped over 2 feet of snow in the Washington metropolitan area, Danni Dawson's portrait painting class was back in session yesterday.  I was happy to be able to capture finally the likeness of the African-American model.  Aren't you impressed with all the colors I found in his expressive face?  That's what Danni emphasizes--put more colors!

"Firebird" (oil on stretched canvas; 12" x 16") nfs

nfs

A beautiful young model in an unusual leather outfit came to Danni Dawson's portrait painting class two weeks ago.  She is apparently a "fire spin" dancer!  Although her outfit of vest with harlequin patches, opera-length black gloves, and laced-up red boots were fascinating, I decided to focus on her even more fascinating face.  Unfortunately, no matter how hard I tried, I could not capture her likeness.  Her face exuded the audacious and vivacious spirit, which was beyond my ability to transcribe in paints.  Perhaps I will try again as this is supposed to be a five-week pose.

The painting looked like this after the first week.  During the second day, I gave more life to her flesh tone, strengthened the shadows on her face, and made the background flat and redder.

"Young Van Gogh" (oil on stretched canvas; 14" x 11") sold

sold

As I finished "Livia in Straw Hat" in two weeks, which was supposed to be a four-week pose, the teacher Danni Dawson suggested that I should paint the other model in the adjoining room.  Excellent!  This red-haired and bearded young model in a cool Havana hat reminded me of Vincent van Gogh the moment I saw him a few weeks ago, so I readily accepted the offer.

The head-and-shoulders portrait fell into place quickly, but it was the background that troubled me.  In the end, I painted it in the hot, van Gogh-like colors, because that's how I felt about the model--a brooding artist himself.

"Livia in Straw Hat" (oil on stretched canvas; 18" x 14") sold

sold

This spring I started taking a portrait/figure class with Danni Dawson at the Art League School in Alexandria, VA. It is exciting to paint from life, not a photograph, with the immediate feedback from the renowned portrait painter.  I am hugely encouraged by my first attempt, which I am sharing here with some step-by-step photos.

Week 1: I quickly drew the subject in burnt umber and established the light/dark pattern.

Week 1: I started blocking in.

Week 1: I got this far at the end of the first week's session. 

Week 2: The model's gentle smile is beginning to emerge.

Week 2: Many small adjustments later, the painting is almost done.  I realized I made her left shoulder too narrow. After the fixing the error, the subject is now too large for the  canvas.  Next time, I am going to use a larger canvas!