Oksana in Black, 12x16

Oksana....
....is the sister of a good friend.  She is one of those people with a changeable face and her emotions are fairly transparent.  I look forward to the times I get to paint her, this being the third or fourth.

Each time with her I have used a different palette and approach.  This day I kept it extra limited, using Cad Yellow Light (Utrecht...which is more like a cad  Yellow medium), Naphthol Red, Rose Madder Permanent and Black....plus Titanium White (Graham because it is so buttery and delicious to spread around).  The limited choices let me concentrate on values and brushwork instead of color.

Originally from Russia, Oksana has that stereotypical spirit and fire about her.  She takes on life in full force....and in a very pleasant way.

The first painting represents her calm 'posing' spirit but as the session went on I could see her energy building (she can only sit still so long) and, since there were two twenty minute poses remaining I grabbed a different panel and went for 'attitude'.

This was a very fast piece, fairly crude in application and likeness....but it does get the attitude.  So the first was about two hours to do and the second forty minutes.

And here is a photo her sister posted on Facebook of the setup.  We are in the studio of Millard (Mick) Davidson and the array of beautiful paintings behind Oksana are all his....and only one wall of a large area.

Thanks for looking.....

Winter Fishery 8x16

Yes, it has been a while....
....since my last post.  Early October, I think.  I'm back on track now.

Since then we have been in Italy on a very satisfying drawing/painting/teaching trip, found out our daughter is expecting twins, and made it through the holidays.  November was a rough month for me. Can't remember the last time I've been that bummed out for so long.  Painting, other than when I was teaching, was almost non-existent.   You might know why and share the feelings.

Anyway, this is a new year so on January 2nd, in weather down to 22 degrees and a strong wind (OK.  I know that doesn't seem anything but balmy to those in the rest of the northern U.S. but it has been unusual for here)  I headed out across the water to this spot.  The sun was setting fast and, as quickly as I worked, this was as much as I could get in but I'm satisfied with it....and it was so good to be back painting outdoors.

I used Cad Yellow Light, Cad Red, Rose Madder Permanent, Burnt Sienna and Cerulean Blue Hue from Gamblin.  Their CBH is basically Pthalo Blue and White and is much easier to control than straight Pthalo Blue and it is of a value that often works with little modification right out of the tube.

There are some more paintings hanging around to post and I'm back in the mood to paint so....

....I'll be back.

Thanks for looking.