Here’s a fun 10″ x 10″ monochromatic oil portrait of Stacie I just completed. Stacie is an enthusiastic teenager with bright blue eyes that I photographed for this portrait last weekend. She asked for greens – lime being her favorite color. When I started working the piece, I decided to leave her eye color alone since they’re such a beautiful shade of blue – and I love the way they pop against the lime.

These are quick paintings, and since I couldn’t continue the lovebirds (indigo isn’t dry yet), I decided to spend a few hours doing this one. These don’t require an underpainting, so they only take a little while to complete, painting wet-in-wet.

My monochromatic paintings consist of one primary color (green), one light (yellow) and one dark (indigo) to contrast. Including her original eye color brought my color palette to 5 colors for this painting (french ultramarine & white).

Makes ya smile, doesn’t she? She’s a pretty young lady, sweet as pie, too.

 

From the top – left is Rosencrantz, right is Lionel.
Bottom left is Guildenstern, right is Jean.Here are the birds underpaintings, you can see their first work in progress shot here. There’s a big difference now in how that background color enhances each of their portraits, it’s really working nicely, warming them up and really showcasing each of them.

Each of their paintings will get another layer of paint before they’re finished.

I completed the background for Elsie, and called Catybug in to have a look at it. I had to hold it up against something to show the difference in color, since it was late afternoon when I finished it and the light was going south west and fading fast. My studio chair was a good spot, the seat is black, the back is honey oak.

She came out to the studio and her eyes opened wide. “Ooooh! I LOVE THAT COLOR! What color is that??” she said. I had no idea how to answer that question, either. Well, it’s not quite red, it’s not crimson – it’s not aubergine, it’s not burgundy, raspberry, or fuchsia. Umm…

“You invented a NEW color, mom?? Woah…”

Maybe I did. And maybe I feel like a pretty darn cool mom for letting some painterly intuition drive my color selection for this background. I know it might not seem like much to you, but choosing these background colors is a big deal. It can make or destroy the portrait, in my eyes.

I invented a color. This is a combination of permanent rose, alizarin crimson, brown madder and yellow ochre. Now I just need to name it, and call Crayola.

The background for Carol & Jerry’s portrait turned out SO pretty. It looks like a watercolor wash – but I swear it’s pure oil. I selected a blue that will enhance their eye color, both of them have those beautiful blue eyes that make you want to dive in and swim away.

Katie’s background is finished – a really rich, milk chocolate brown warms up into a gorgeous finish that reminds me of soft brown leather. This will really draw attention to her face and bring out the creamy yellows in her coat.

You can view her portrait as it has progressed here.

From the top – left is Rosencrantz, right is Lionel. Bottom left is Guildenstern, right is Jean. Two male, two female – and they’re such pretty birds! I completed the backgrounds on these four lovebird portraits, and will start painting them on Monday. This warm ochre will really set off their soft green and peach tones. I did a similar color on this lovebird portrait back in 2004, that one is an oil pastel painting though, so these being oil paintings will result in much more vibrant colors.

I’ll be working in all of the backgrounds over the weekend for all of my portraits. You’ll see a lot of progress shots over the next couple of days!

I did finish up this portrait, things have just been a little crazy here for the last couple of days. Sorry I seem to have disappeared! (Didjya miss me? Please tell me you missed me. Lie if you must.)

I’ll get the portrait scanned in and show you the final (accurate color) painting in a day or two.

 

With the New Year comes new art in my studio. These are the rest of the commissioned works that I’ll be completing in oils over the next few weeks.

A. Custom portrait of two very wonderful people, this is 8×10.

B. Custom cat painting – this is Elsie. This portrait will memorialize her, as she’s recently passed over the rainbow bridge. Her mom sent me the story of her life, and by the time I was finished, I was reading through blubbers and drips. She had a beautiful life, and she’s got a wonderful mom. This is an 11×14.

C. Custom cat painting of Willie, a pretty longhaired tuxedo cat. He’s 8×8.

D-E-F & G. Custom lovebird paintings. These are 4×4 little bitty canvas panels that will get matted and framed out to a larger size to really make them a focal point. Lovebirds are gorgeous, as you know, and there are two pair in this family. I have all of their names, but they’re a bit jumbled as I’m not sure yet which name goes with which pretty bird.

H. That pretty little kitty, Cheeky, done up in a larger, 6×6 portrait.

Then there’s Katie’s portrait, and then I’ll get crackin on the Heron painting – because it won’t be long before it’s time for my first exhibition (in March) – and I’m a last minute crunch kinda gal.

Suffice it to say – my New Year’s Resolution? To Paint. A lot.What’s your biggest most important goal for the New Year?

I’ll be finishing up this little 4×6 portrait over the next day or two (we’ll see how the indigo dries tonight). Here’s what this painting looked like when I started it just before Christmas.