Freddie at four years old

Well, I can't even count how many times I have used this old photo of my son as subject matter.  Charcoal, pastel, graphite and at least four watercolors!  I love this shot of him.  He's now 43.  Guess I should get some current shots of him to use, huh?  Anyway, this is on Arches 300# cold press, quarter sheet.  I work mostly on quarter sheets especially for portraits.  Somehow those faces drawn on a half sheet look so overwhelming to me!  Huge!!

I think this fellow is finished

Time to call this one finished.  It is so hard for me (and I guess lots of other artists) to know when to stop.  I was thinking of doing more on the background but I think I'll let it be.

More work on Jim

So here's what I like on this one : the hair and sunglasses.  What I don't like is the outline of his goatee below his lip.  I need to soften that and lose the edges there.  I did a bit of wash for the background but I will add more later.  Same with his shirt.  I want to keep it loose but the area on our left is not finished.  For now this is on the wall bulletin board for a rest and a fresher outlook.

A couple finished pieces

I'm pretty happy with the way these boots turned out.  This is one of the pieces where Soon really focused on having me add LOTS more color and pigment.  I really like the look.  My son of course has already said that he wants the one for his next gift!  Still spoiled at 43 years old!

Here's the completed piece of the little African girl.  I'm anxious to do this again on my own and not in Soon's class.  I want to see if I learned what she was trying to impart.  There are a few changes I would make such as cropping most of the clothing out.  I think I would like the focus to just be on her face.

Brazos

Ok, so I have some issues with this.  First I don't like what is happening with the scarf and clothing and I'm not sure what to do with that just now.  I like the face.  I liked what was happening with the hat in the last post.  Then Soon decided that it should be darker.  After darkening it, I feel like it doesn't have much character now.  I'm really in a flux between Soon's methods and style and those of Ted Nuttall.  I love his loose looking style and the very painterly look.  Soon's work is much more detailed and tight looking, which I really love for some subjects and I am anxious to incorporate that into my own style.  I know that if I ever get a commission for a portrait, that her style would probably be the one most folks would choose.  I know I have alot to learn from Soon and she is already getting me to use more pigment and not do such pale and weak colors.  That is a good thing!!!

So I'm thinking that I need to do some portraits on hot press paper in Ted's style and keep on improving on learning to do that better.  At the same time, I want to really work on learning as much as possible from Soon so that I can paint in her style too.  Good thing I don't have a full time job!!!!  LOL!!  I'd never get to accomplish all that I want.

Progress on Brazos

I'm really pleased with how this is looking.  I took the masking off of the hair against his hat and did a light wash of a lighter version of the hat.  I think it looks pretty good.  First time I have tried that!  I have also done some work on his clothes.  This is on Arches 140# stretched cold pressed paper.  My intention was to do some of the pattern in his scarf but I have changed my mind and erased the pencil drawings I did of those designs.  Before I attempt something that detailed on a real painting I think I will do some practicing on scrap paper to see the results. 

My husband, Jim

Thought I'd take a stab at doing a painting of this shot of Jim from one of our vacations a few years ago.   Of course I still have work to do but I think it is turning out pretty well. This is on 300# Arches cold pressed.

Gavin and Lucah Finished

I have finished these two paintings and will be matting and framing them this week.  I'm pleased overall and think I learned a few things along the way.  I have to thank my fellow blogger, Bob Witte, for critiquing and helping me to adjust certain areas.  Always nice to have another set of eyes to see something.