Sunday, May 26, 2013

A Long Time Comin'

16" x 20" Acrylic on board [Click to enlarge]

Well..I tried a practice portrait before this.  It went through the mannequin stage, the zombie stage and finally, the space alien stage, before I chucked it in the corner.

So much for that.

But the idea of a portrait nagged at me.  My sister-in-law had been bugging me about doing a portrait of her literally for decades.  And finally I felt capable of painting it.

Did it look like her?  It did to me.  I did the small child test. Casually, showing little interest and yawning slightly, I pointed to the picture and asked a small child, "Who's that?"

I am pleased to say I passed the test.

My sister-in-law's reaction?  "Now you paint me - when I'm not young anymore?!"

Aw well.  She took it home anyway.

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A book in my library that I've spent hours perusing over the years is "A Painterly Approach" by Mary Beth McKenzie.  I just love the way she paints.  But all that time reading her advice and viewing her wonderful paintings showed me nothing at all compared to a demonstration by the artist I found online at the Youtube channel of the Art Students League of New York.  There is just something about watching an artist work.  At the same channel, I found a demonstration by Sharon Sprung that was just as informative and inspiring.  I hope you find them as rewarding:

Mary Beth McKenzie:



 Sharon Sprung:


Thank you Art Students League, for providing this resource to we country folks (because everywhere outside of NYC is the country, right?)

37 comments:

  1. I don't know your sister-in-law but it looks like a good portrait to me, especially the hair!

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    1. Thanks Cathy! I'm glad you liked the hair, because it was a part I wondered about.

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  2. I'm sure your SIL is delighted with her portrait. Not knowing what she looks like I can't comment on likeness, but as a portrait it is excellent :)
    Thanks for adding the videos, so nice to see people work.

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    1. Well the likeness is there. Whether she'll appreciate it as a portrait of her, who know?

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  3. Hi Dan, WOW! I'm impressed! I like the expression you achieved with your painting; it makes me want to meet your sister in law. Its a wonderful portrait.

    And, I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. McKenzie's demonstration. I wandered around the Arts Student League's site for awhile; exciting! Now, I'll have to go look at Ms. Sprung's video. Thank you for sharing!

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    1. Thanks, Peggy! I am smiling - I didn't know I was deserving of a WOW.

      Exciting is the right word for those demos. I watched Ms. McKenzie and couldn't wait to get my hands on a brush!

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  4. Funny how things like these videos find us when we're ready for them. I thought of you the other day, driving through town I saw a man in a yellow hoodie with it up, I stared at him. Not sure what it was about him that held my attention. Then thought, he'd be great in your ongoing people on the street series.

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    1. I think it is so wonderful that you thought of me, driving through streets where I have never been. How wonderful! It's true. There are so many folks I see that I wish I could just say - stay there, hold that pose, don't move - let me take this shot!

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  5. Awesome portrait, Dan. Love the brushwork.
    Another one, please. :-)

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    1. I'm glad you like the brushwork! Cool! I am sure I will oblige - I definitely found doing this rewarding.

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  6. Hola Dan, muy interesante este retrato, me gusta mucho las pinceladas marcadas, gracias por tu comentario en mi blog, un saludo!! :)

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    1. Saludos a ti también! Estoy muy contento de que te gustaba las pinceladas. Es por eso que me gusta a veces en lugar de acrílicos acuarelas.

      Por cierto, en realidad estoy empezando a estudiar español. Así que tal vez algún día voy a ser capaz de escribir en el mío propio, en lugar de usar "Google Translate".

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  7. Wow, this is a fantastic portrait! I admire your skills - whenever I try to draw a portrait, it ends up looking like a bad cartoon version of the person... (which is why I hardly do it...)
    Yours looks like millions of layers and lots of work (with great results, I'd like to add!). And I love how there's blue in her face and it looks right! *amazed*

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    1. I could have tried for natural skin color, but I just love to throw in color! Your comics are so good - who needs to do portaits?!

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  8. I very much like your portrait Dan - and to pass that test (the 'who do you think this is?", asked of a friend or relative of the subject) is a true testimony of success. (My husband rarely recognises the pencil or pen portraits I do of our children!) I am also delighted that you posted the links to the videos. I am just now starting out with paint and to see the sublime Mary Beth Mackenzie at work - wow. As Mary said above, sometimes these things come along at just the right time. Thank you very much indeed.

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    1. I'm so glad, Jane. When I saw these videos I knew I had to share them. It's one thing to pick up a brush. It's another to see how a master uses one. Enlightening.

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  9. Dan you did a terrific job on your portrait. Thanks for passing along the youtubes. I started watching one and will finish up with it and the second one tomorrow. The first one is amazing.

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    1. Who are you, Anon? I am so glad you liked the portrait, and that you found the first video to be "amazing". Me too!

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  10. The portrait is awesome, but I think if someone painted me exactly the way I look now it would wind up staying in my closet, LOL.

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    1. Confidentially, CW, I suspect she may do just that. But when I visit, she'll have to scramble and find a frame or something to put it in for display, lol! The moral - be careful what you ask for. Then again, if she puts it in the closet for 20 years, one day she'll pull it out and love it because of her youth!

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  11. Wow--a portrait in acrylics. This is a neat one and I'm sure your sister-in-law appreciates it. I'll be back to watch the videos; I'm definitely a country folk.

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    1. We country folk got to stick together. Thank you for the "wow" word!

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  12. Love the portrait, Dan! I hope you do more! (Acrylic is fun, yes??) Thanks also for the videos. The first one especially! wow, what a painter!

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    1. I think acrylic is definitely fun. Love to do the strokes and leave the proof of it, that the colors don't vanish when you lay them on, the chance for impasto, and yet it dries quickly. I am impressed that you are impressed by Mary Beth McKenzie. I thought you were surrounded by magnificent painters up there in my heaven, Portland.

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    1. Thanks Alex! Boy, if you would ever try this..you do such a magnificent job with drawing people, I suspect your painted portrait would be amazing!

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  14. Your portrait has great character Dan! I like it. Most of us don't like portraits of ourselves, for in our inner eye were as fresh and as lovely as the day we stepped into puberty. But each of us has our looks--as we react to life's follies. Each of those looks tells our story and they are important stories. --I don't find it odd that you did a portrait in acrylic. You just layer on the paint the way you do with watercolors and oils, what's the big deal? Drying time.

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    1. I'm so glad you visited for this post - I know your dedication to portraits. I frankly always imagine portraits in acrylics or oil, not watercolor. And from the time I was a wee lad, portraits were what I wanted to do. Less so now, but I love faces.

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  15. Dan, you did an amazing job on your sister in-law's portrait. It's expressive and the flesh tones are fantastic and yes wrinkles and all she is lovely. Tell her that.

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    1. Thank you! I will (leaving out the part about wrinkles).

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  16. Okay, how did I miss this post?? But glad to finally see it, its a great piece and passing the main test (in a childs eye) is the top notch!!! I just love your siter-in-laws comment "now you paint when Im not young" too funny but she looks lovely.

    Really beautifully done Dan!!!

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    1. Thanks Mari! You missed this post because I haven't exactly been posting regularly. I hope to change that.

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  17. Nice one, Dan! I love her comment and know exactly what she means. All I have used is acrylic so it doesn't surprise me that you used it here as I know no better :0) Thanks for the Utubes which were of great interest.

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  18. You are multi talented Dan! I'm so glad the portrait was a success. You did a fantastic job with it- KUDOS to you!!!

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  19. Dan....wow!!!!
    You have just jumped up so many levels - I really can't believe it!
    I think I might just stick a few more of these ----> !!!!!!!!
    Your the portrait artist that I didn't know you were (not sure if I'm making sense). I'm so proud of you. This is all what I knew you could do. You really have to do more of these.
    I'm sorry if I've been a little quiet - I found out that the cancer has come back. I'm now desperately trying to finish the portrait I've been working on. An oil painting of my wife....it has taken me ages to find the courage to do this - then soon as I pick up the courage to do it I get the results back from my yearly CT scan that it's back. But looking at your portrait has just given me a great boost Mate!!!
    Stew.

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  20. Hey Dan!
    I just saw your post on my blog. Thank you!
    My wife just bought me a new laptop so I'm viewing and commenting and posting on people's blogs again.
    :-)
    Stew.

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  21. Dan, tell your SIL that if she hangs that portrait in a meer 10 years she will think she looks VERY young in that portrait. I certainly feel that way about pictures of me 10 years ago. LOL Thanks for sharing the links...

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