Some recent work

I participate in a portrait group every Monday in a small town near Fort Worth. I am the only artist there who paints during our session with a live volunteer model. Others use charcoal or pastel. They give their completed work to the model at the end of our session. Since I am using oil paint, I complete the painting from photos taken during the session and give it to the model once it is complete and dry.  The following are two recents.

This is Dan, one of our fellow artists. I think he has a great face and presence.  A couple weeks ago, I had the pleasure to be able to take several photos of him to use as reference material.  This was painted from one of those photos. 

This is Robert, a favorite model of the group.  He is able to hold a pose so perfectly and has a wonderful face and sweet attitude.  This was my first time to paint him and I enjoyed it so much.  This was about 90 minutes from life and finished in another hour or so in the studio from my photo of him.  

The next photo was taken during a break.  It shows Robert sitting and chatting with two of our other artists, Jerry on the left and Dan on the right.

Although I really love doing all these face studies, I have the desire to do a larger figurative piece.  Just have to find the correct reference that "grabs" me.