Monthly Archives: May 2017

Painting the Architect

 

Painting an Architect

The Architect, 24×28, oil/linen

What a treat and honor it was to paint this portrait!  This gentleman is an incredibly talented architect here in Charlotte.  I was lucky enough to paint both his daughters, and much to his wife’s surprise, he decided he wanted his portrait done.  There is no vanity involved here.  I think he’s just fascinated with portraiture.  He was gracious enough to also take the time to sit for me so that I could do color studies from life.  I’ve become so spoiled that I really resist painting from a photograph.  I am fascinated by the colors and subtleties of life!!!

Here’s the color study that I did from life.  Thanks to Chris Saper — one of the many things I learned from her was to keep swatches of the colors I use for various flesh tones on my study. So that’s what those colors on the side of the study are.

Portrait Color Study

Color Study for The Architect, 12×16, Oil/Linen

I learned another lesson during this process.  I decided to paint on an oversized canvas, so that I could crop later.  So many times when I’ve completed a painting, I wish that I could move something over a little.  So I decided to make sure I was happy with the final cropping.  Once I removed it from the stretchers though, it was another story!!!  Restretching a painted piece of linen is not easy!  I finally ended up taking it to a local framer and they did a beautiful job of restretching it.  

Can you tell I love painting people???  Grateful!!!

 

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