Category Archives: Portrait Painting

First Exploit into Writing

 

Learning the Limited Palette

I was honored to be asked to write a blog post on the Zorn Palette for the Portrait Society of America.  My first exploit into writing!!!  Still prefer to paint!!! You can view it on their website under “Blog”. http://portraitsociety.org

December 10, 2019    Robin Wellner

There is something so magical about capturing someone’s essence on canvas. I’m fascinated and frustrated in equal measures as I try to learn to be a better portrait artist. I love the energy of painting from life, be it people or landscapes. Several years ago, I came across information on the Zorn Palette and thought, “Wow, only four colors!” White, yellow ochre, cadmium red and Ivory black – and variations. I’ve experimented with various limited palettes, but after looking at Anders Zorn’s portraits, I knew it was worth considering and experimenting with. 

Anders Zorn, Self Portrait with Model, 1896

Anders Zorn was a pre-eminent Swedish artist (1860-1920). He began as a watercolorist, painting beautiful landscapes, seascapes, as well as some portraits. In 1887, Zorn and his wife traveled with the English painter Alice Miller to Cornwall on England’s southwest coast. In the village of St. Ives in England, they found a wonderful fishing setting as well as a colony of international artists. Their visit lasted through the winter and was transformative for Anders Zorn as a painter. These painters inspired Anders Zorn to begin to paint in oils. An American artist, Edward Simmons, claimed to “help the Swede” to set his palette. This initial palette was black, white and yellow ochre. After the addition of red, this became Anders Zorn’s initial palette. This palette is evident in his painting Self Portrait with Model painted in 1896. It’s obvious as you look further at Zorn’s work that he did not limit himself to just that palette. There are many paintings that obviously have blues, greens and purples that could never have been created with the typical “Zorn” palette, but there are many incredible portraits that seem to have been painted with just those four colors.

                                Close-up of Zorn’s four-color palette

In my mission to learn portraiture, it was great to simplify the color aspect of my decision-making and focus more on the person in front of me. I found it quite liberating and rarely restrictive, unless the model wore blue or some vibrant purple. Since I was predominantly focused on their faces, it usually wasn’t a problem. Occasionally I will add ultramarine blue to my palette if the model wears blue. I also discovered that I was able to handle virtually any skin tone – brown, black or Caucasian – with those four colors. In my experimentation, I decided to use Cadmium Red Medium as my red. I found it more neutral than Cadmium Red Light or Vermilion. The other advantage to this palette was that I was virtually guaranteed color harmony because of the limited colors.

As time progressed and I became comfortable using this palette, I realized it would be a great asset to teaching. It simplified the color aspect of portrait painting, allowing more time to consider other aspects. Now prior to a workshop, I give my students homework and ask that they do color charts with those four colors. I developed a YouTube video that shows the process of doing a color chart, so they can follow along. As a result, they arrive at the workshop familiar with the range of skin tones they can achieve and are usually excited about the process. For those who may not have painted recently, it gets them to experiment with the paint before they come to the workshop.

Robin Wellner, Todd, oil, 16 x 20″

I don’t limit myself solely to using the Zorn palette when I do portraits, but I have found it a wonderful tool for learning. In this huge challenge of portrait painting, I’m grateful for anything to speed my learning! What tools have you learned to speed up that process?

Portrait Society member and Cecilia Beaux Forum guest writer Robin Wellner is an avid learner and works hard at trying to hone her skills as a portrait artist. She developed and teaches a workshop using the Zorn limited palette, “Alla Prima Portraits, using the Zorn Palette.” She hopes to pass on anything she’s learned to assist other artists who are passionate about painting the portrait.                  

Robin Wellner, Rara, 12×16″

 

 

 
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Executive Portraits

Jim Allison, partner at Johnston, Allison and Hord, Attorneys at Law

I had the wonderful opportunity to paint Jim Allison’s portrait before he retired. I could tell from the folks I met at his firm that he is going to be missed!!

It’s not my preference to work from a photo that I have not taken, but I think it all worked out just fine. Jim has a great jovial spirit that I hope comes through in his portrait.

Enjoy your retirement Jim!!!

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Alla Prima Portraits, using the Zorn Palette

Alla Prima Portraits using the Zorn Palette 

3-day Workshop with Robin Wellner

November 1, 2, 3 2023 – $375, includes model fee

Contemporary Art Studios, 10100 Park Cedar Dr., Suite 188, Charlotte, NC 28210

https://www.robinwellner.com

Painting portraits is challenging – but incredibly rewarding! Using a limited palette that we know works makes the color choices so much easier. One look at Anders Zorn’s paintings is enough proof that this palette can produce some incredibly beautiful portraits. Using the Zorn Palette will give you freedom and versatility and allow you to concentrate on some of the other aspects of portrait work. Robin Wellner has been working with the Zorn Palette for several years and is offering a workshop to share what she has learned about this palette, as well as other hints about creating a realistic portrait and likeness.
The workshop will start each morning with a demo and instruction. After lunch, you will have the opportunity to paint a live model. There is nothing like painting from life — even if you choose to work from photos in the future. The insights you gain will transfer to your photo work. Instruction will include values, color, painting shapes rather than lines, specifics on painting features, and measuring for an accurate likeness.
As an artist, Robin Wellner specializes in portrait and figure work, as well as plein air and landscapes. Her portraits have been featured in several national shows, such as, American Women Artists, Oil Painters of American, Richeson Portrait and Figure shows.
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Alla Prima Portrait Workshop Using the Zorn Palette

3-Day Intensive Workshop with Robin Wellner

Friday, Saturday and Sunday – October 6, 7 and 8, 2017 – 9:30am – 5pm

ClearWater Artist Studios, Concord, NC

$375, plus $50* model fee per person

*model fee waived if you register by September 15th

What do all of these paintings have in common???  They were all painted with only four colors!  White, yellow ochre, cadmium red and ivory black.

 

Portraits are challenging  — but so rewarding!  Simplifying my palette to something that I know works, has given me freedom to focus on other details of my work.  Anders Zorn’s limited palette gives me a beautiful range of skin tones and I’m virtually guaranteed color harmony in my painting.

Painting Each Other

I’m offering a three day workshop on this palette and other aspects of portraiture October 6, 7 and 8th, 2017 at the ClearWater Artist Studios in Concord, NC.  We will start each morning with instruction and a demo, painting the model “alla prima” (wet-on-wet) from life.  After lunch, you will all have the opportunity to paint the model with lots of one-on-one instruction and gentle critiquing.  We will focus on color, values, specifics on facial features, painting shapes rather than lines and learning to measure for an accurate likeness. There is nothing like painting from life!  Even if you choose to paint from photos in the future, painting from life will give you valuable information that will help you in that work.

“I honestly think that this class, for me, was truly perfect. Frustrating, but honestly what I needed – to be pushed and challenged and to learn more every session.  I loved it!”
 
“You are changing my way of looking at portrait models. I am ready to jump to the next level and I feel like I could do more with you.  I want you to be a mentor and teacher.”
 

ClearWater Studios offers a beautiful space in Concord, NC for this workshop. Once you register, I will send you a list of supplies and your first assignment!  Yes, I’m giving you homework!  You’ll come to the workshop prepared and already on the road to mastering some aspects of the Zorn palette.

Advanced registration is required.  Spaces are limited to make sure you get plenty of one-on-one instruction. Supply list and additional information will be sent upon registration.  Tuition will be refunded if cancellation is done 30 days before the workshop.  If for any reason the workshop is cancelled all tuition will be refunded.

I hope you’ll join us!  Please feel free to email me with questions or for more information.

Registration below or on my “Teaching/Workshop” page.




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Painting Portraits with an Audience, and a Ticking Clock!

This is me at the Portrait Paint Off trying to complete a painting in an hour and 45 minutes.  Clearwater Artists Studios, in Concord, host an annual portrait paint off with five selected painters.  The whole event is 3 hours — with wonderful baked goods and baskets of goodies to be raffled off.  For the last two hours, we paint, with an audience of about 150 people.  They were wonderful supportive and didn’t ask too many questions.  Which is a good thing, since I tend to switch off the talking part of my brain once I start painting.  I love the opportunity to paint with other painters.  Gordon James, Barbara Ellis, Isaac Payne and Mark Stephenson were the other featured painters.  It’s such a delight to see how everyone handles the same model in a completely different and wonderful way!
This is an iPhone shot of the final painting.  I started with my Zorn palette, but introduced some other colors because of her dress.  We had another row of painters who could set up behind us, so we had a full house of painters and audience.  

Grateful to Sarah Gay and Clearwater Artists Studios for the opportunity!!  Painting with the clock ticking is a good practice I think!

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Painting Each Other – Todd Baxter

Painting Each Other

I am a part of a wonderful little group of artists who paint together every week from life.  Today our model “no showed” so Todd – one of our amazing artists – agreed to model.  This is from a 3-hour session, painted with the Zorn Palette. 

The Zorn palette has become my go to palette.  It’s so much easier to only have four colors out, and I feel like if Anders Zorn liked it, I’m good with it!! I’m starting to use my palette knife a bit more in places.  All those daily paintings using the knife has made me so much more comfortable with it.

Looking forward to teaching another Zorn class.  I’m waiting for the doctors to give us a gameplan for getting my husband well before I feel confident to put it on the calendar. Hoping to teach a beginners oil class as well — and maybe a palette knife class.  I’m really enjoying teaching!

All the best!!!

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Dave and the Dogs – Portrait of a man and his dogs

Dave and the Dog

I had such a wonderful time with this painting!  I have a very dear friend, Marjie, who lives in Denver, Colorado.  We’ve known each other for over 40 years.  She is an artist as well — pastels, sculpture and glass work.  We had great plans in November for her to come join me for an “Artist in Residence” week at Table Rock State park.  She booked her ticket and we made plans. Then I got the news that the wildfires in North and South Carolina were encroaching on the park and my “residence” was cancelled!  I was so bummed!  Marjie decided not to come and take care of some other business in Colorado.

I felt so badly about not getting to spend that time together –  and her losing that money for her ticket!  It was a perfect opportunity to show her my love and appreciation.  Initially I asked her to send me pictures of her pups, thinking I would do a pet portrait of those two cuties.  But once I saw the photos I had to incorporate her husband Dave.  

I used my favorite palette for portraits these days – the Zorn palette.  White, black, yellow ochre and Cad Red Medium.  I pulled it together from three different photos. It was one of those paintings that seemed to flow.  Sometimes all the pieces come together — and sometimes, I wipe them out, turn them to the wall and fret about them.  Perhaps because it was a labor of love, it came together easily. 

Here’s to wonderful friendships that endure no matter what!  Love you Marjie!!!

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Sisters!

web_Willa web_DesiWhat a treat it was to paint sisters!  I completed this commission for two sisters, Desi and Willa – at the request of their parents.  They both recently achieved some major milestones in their lives by completing their master’s degrees,  so Tom and Reba (their parents) decided a great way to celebrate was having their portraits painted.  I’m so grateful that I was able to be a part of this!

The first step in the whole process is a discussion of what kind of portrait you would like.  If you look at my paintings, some of them are a bit looser and some are more refined.  Are you looking for a casual or more formal look?  Will it be a head and shoulders; or part, or all of the body?  Loose abstract background or more details? Inside or outside? Do you want your dog in the painting?  You can see there are lots of possibilities.  Once the initial decision about direction has been made, the actual process begins.

My process (for now) has been to ask for 3-4 hours initially with the subject I’ll be painting. I take tons of photos, so that we can find some that seem to suit the person I’m painting.  Then I spend some time doing a head study to record that person’s coloring in paint.  Photographs are not the same as real life.  Ideally, it’s wonderful to have the opportunity to paint the entire portrait from life, but there are few folks who are willing to take the time for that.

At that point, sometimes I will do a small, quick study for the client of the painting concept.  Otherwise, I will begin the actual painting, using a combination of photographs and my study from life.  I have recorded color notes in paint that will help me “translate” the photographs.  Once I feel that the painting is complete, I will arrange for the client to view that painting, either in person or by photographs.  This is an opportunity for the client to make adjustments. There are details that are important to the client that I may not be aware of — so this is an opportunity to make sure I have addressed those.

Portraits become heirlooms that are passed down in families —  reminders of the people in our lives who are the most special to us.  I am grateful for the opportunity to play a part in this process.  There is something special and magical about painting someone.  Hopefully a bit of their “soul” comes through in the process.

 

 

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