Blue Moon at the Half Shell. original iPad painting.
This iPad sketch is based on a neon sign and its reflections, spotted while dining on the wonderful grilled oysters at The Half Shell, in Biloxi. A feast for the eyes to match the feast for the taste buds.
My friend Carlos, who wants to experiment with natural-light photographic portraits, joined me for the first session with my neighbor Rita. He made a number of beautiful pictures, while I snapped photos of Rita from my on-looker’s vantage.
Rita at ease
After he left, I did a quick charcoal sketch of Rita, in a three-quarter pose. It was ok for the first session, but I didn’t like the pose and definitely wanted to capture a grin, if not a smile, in the final product.
Rita in Initial Pose . Charcoal Sketch.
Enough for one day! Rita’s not tired, but I am!
At a Biloxi Waffle House. original iPad painting.
On our last visit to Biloxi, we grabbed a bit of breakfast goodies at one of the many local Waffle House restaurants. We didn’t really believe they’d have us seated within five minutes — given the long lines of seated and standing wanna eat patrons. But the efficient staff delivered in fine style. Here’s my iPad take on the scene.
Rita. Oil on Linen Panel.
I am working on a portrait series of several neighbors, hoping to improve my portraiture skills. My across-the-street neighbor, Rita, has been my first subject. And what a subject she’s been. I’m very happy with the outcome and am happy that she likes it too. Thanks, Rita!
Misty island morning, with pines. original iPad painting.
I’ve begun a new series of iPad paintings to reflect scenes of my native Biloxi, Mississippi and surrounds. This one is based on a photo made by my niece Ceci one misty morning on Horn Island. More to come.
Resting at the Portrait Gallery. Oil on Linen.
During a recent visit to the National Portrait Gallery, I saw two marvelous women, each sitting in one of the deep window seats that back up to the courtyard. I decided to be bold and ask if I could take their pictures for painting purposes. To my delight, each agreed. Here’s the first – a petite little lady perched on the long cushion, resting her feet. Another palette knife attempt.
Cousins, engrossed in an iPad. Oil on Linen.
I fell in love with a darling photo of two cousins (my grand-niece & -nephew, if I’ve calculated that right), huddled around an iPad. I knew I had to make a painting out of it. Have been trying to learn how to paint with a palette knife. This is one of my first attempts.
View from my back door, painted ‘live’. Oil on Arches Oil Paper.
I’m kind of a housebody (take after my grandmother Ceci), so I don’t often paint ‘plein air’. While my art buddies were out painting in the hot summer sun, I decided to paint what I see out of my back door window daily.
I’m thinking that lovely blue sky is too cheerful for the mood of the painting. What do you think??
Here’s another of my paintings to be featured at the Writers Center exhibit, opening in late June. A ‘plein air’ painting (done in the great outdoors) painted along S Street, NW, DC, in a workshop offered by Carol Rubin, another wonderful artist.
S Street Lollipops. Oil on Linen Panel.
The wonderful DC-area Writers Center regularly hosts art exhibits in its large space, featuring the works of local artists. Ten of my paintings will be included in the next show, scheduled to open in late June. This exhibit is organized around the works of those who have painted with Gonzalo Navarro, a fellow teacher at the Yellow Barn Studio in Glen Echo, MD. I have enjoyed Gonzalo’s teaching expertise — it’s always good to practice skills under the tutelage of an expert in portraiture and figurative painting. It’s great to have Gonzalo at the Yellow Barn, as well as Maud Taber-Thomas, supplementing the excellent portraiture teaching of Gavin Glakas.
Here is one of the paintings I’ll show in the upcoming exhibit. More to follow.
Pensive Ballerina. Oil on Arches Oil Paper.