Learning from an Old Master: Franz Hals

 

 "Learning by Imitating: Copying Franz Hals"

Oil on Canvas, 6" sq., c. Catherine Vines

   

This is a copy of a detail from a Franz Hals portrait, a master at painting and specialist at the portrait. I worked to learn as much as possible, even trying to reproduce his brush strokes. The freedom of his brushwork is amazing.

Although the lighting is off on my photograph (more light toward the right), and my copy has a sneer Hals' didn't, it gives a fair idea how far my learning has progressed.

"It Will Be the Death of Me"

"Olivia"

Oil on Canvas, 6" sq., c. Catherine Vines

   

My mother used to say this, "It will be the death of me." all the time, usually referring to something I had done. I was beginning to think that would be true of this painting.

Part of it was my own fault: I tried to change the lighting direction to the opposite side. It seems to have been complete beyond me.  I couldn't keep the facial features right if I changed the lighting. My old troubles with reversal kicked in so I ending up scraping more than I painted!

Olivia is a seventh-grader this year. I hadn't appreciated what a pretty girl she is until I worked on her portrait.

Back to Working on Color Relationships

"John"

Oil on Canvas, 6" sq., c. Catherine Vines

   

Meet John, a regular visitor to our street. Can't you just picture the girls going crazy over him in a few years?

About this painting: I have been working so hard on the various challenges of portrait painting that I almost forgot my original intent to work on color relationships. Here I tried to show a value change with a distinct color change.

The Effects of Glare on Color

"Riley - A Second Look"

Oil on Canvas, 6" sq., c. Catherine Vines

    

I've painted this little boy before, but then he's one of my favorites. He's such a boy, interested in trucks and other full-time boy pursuits, practically from birth. He follows in his dad's footsteps, who is quite an athlete himself.

I miss him.

I think this is my best joy to date of painting hair.

I apologize about the glare on the right side of the painting. Look at how it even changes the color of his top, not to mention the right side of his face.

Painting After a Break

"Megan"

Oil on Canvas, 6" sq.,  c. Catherine Vines

   

I had no idea when I selected Megan to paint it would be such a challenging pose.

Part of the challenge was getting back to painting after a break for computer repair and bronchitis (mine, not the computer's!).  

Things I normally take for granted just wouldn't work. Not easily, at least.

But it is Megan, and her beautiful eyes show through.

Blogging from My IPad

The short news is, "I can't."
I finally conquered the Error Message delema, but I still can't post pictures from the IPad for some reason
And since my computer is getting a new battery case, it will be 7-10 days before I can post a painting again.
Hopefully I will have a bunch of new paintings ready to post.
Until then.

The Learning Curve

"Painting Gavin" - In Progress

Oil on Canvas, 6" sq., c. Catherine Vines

   

Sometimes it seems as if with every painting, I have to learn all over again. Perhaps that helps keep me from taking the process for granted, but it sure slows me down. In today's post I couldn't seem to get my darks dark enough.

I am working on something new here: the fabric in his pullover. I would like to improve on painting different fabrics in case I expand my focus to include more of the upper body.

Blogger is crazy today. I can't seem to add labels without an error message. Until tomorrow.

Current Palette for Painting Faces in Oil

"Current Palette for Painting Faces"

c. Catherine Vines

  

If you look closely, you will see that the back half of the palette is cools and the front half warms. (Just ignore that bit of Cobalt Blue in the lower left hand corner; sometimes I run out of room. )

For the warms, I am using Cad Red Med (in this case, Gambil) plus Yellow Ochre Light, valued out by  a combination of Titanium White and Zinc White. 

What is different about the last painting I did (see yesterday's post) was the addition of the Yellow Ochre and white - without the red. This helped the problem I have sometimes with unwanted ruddiness.

For the cools, I used Utretch's Alizarin Crimison plus Yellow Ochre Light, with varying amounts of the whites. The left rear corner shows cools plus the Cobalt Blue, which is not as purplish as the Ultramarine.

Sorry about that arrow in the middle. Apparently I have learned how to make a video from my IPad!

The More You See, the More You See

"A Modern-Day Peter Pan"

Oil on Canvas, 6" sq., c. Catherine Vines

   

The more I looked at the photo reference for this painting, the more I saw. And the more there was to paint. I think this is progress.
As much as I love this portrait, it is not the direction I expected when I started these small portraits. I always thought they would be more abstract. Still, this is where I am. Today.
But as Scarlett said, "Tomorrow is another day."

Slowly I Paint

"Granddad Vines"

Acrylic on Masonite, Detail, c. Catherine Vines

   

I'm still dealing with the effects of this new vegan lifestyle, so for today I'm posting an old painting. 

This portrait was done in acrylics, entirely with a palette knife. 

You may recognize similarities between this and the self-portrait I use as a logo; both were taken from the same large painting.

Today I'm headachy, lethargic, and again with the poor concentration. I flit life a butterfly between things and just may starve to death; but I am painting!

A Photo Day

"Peter Pan" - Source Photo

This is another view of the little boy I am currently painting. While the painting itself is going well, I am having a hard time concentrating, and a harder time finishing.

I credit it to the vegan diet I am experimenting with - for all of two days!

I am used to painting until I feel fatigued, but this is a new experience. I need more focus (or meat).

Peter Pan

'Peter Pan" - In Progress

Oil on Panel, 6" sq., c. Catherine Vines

  

 You already get a feel for this little boy, don't you? Except for that thing on top of his head - I know you're wondering. All I can say it, "Tune in tomorrow!"

At this stage, I'm laying in the basic shapes, asking myself the question, "It is cooler? Warmer? Darker? Lighter?" I can't wait to continue working.

Learning New Skills

"Oscar"

Oil on Canvas, 6" sq., c. Catherine Vines

   

I have an an IPad. I have an an IPad. Yea! But I just can't leave it alone. It's so much better to paint from and it takes great photos.

However, I can't seem to get Blogger to post from it.  More research.

As to the painting:  The initial underpainting was so red that adding yellow only took it to orange. Duh. Finally I used my Alizarin Crimson for the lights and that helped some. And it's definitely him.

High Key vs. Low Key

"Oscar" - In Progress
Oil on Canvas, 6" sq., c. Catherine Vines
   

I started this painting by painting the darks first.

In the past I have made the mistake of starting a painting with medium tones and ending up with so light a painting I was forced to use pure white for highlights.
By painting the darks first, I am hoping to lower the key of the entire painting and make a more convincing portrait.
So far, my subject just has a really good tan.

Star Power - Painting in Oils

"Star Power"

Oil on Canvas, 6" sq., c. Catherine Vines

   

Who knew when I started painting children I would need to know how to paint boa feathers!

I've painted this little girl before, but this is a completely new look for her. I just wish I could have captured her mischievous expression.

Painting a Star in Oils

"A Star is Born" - In Progress

Oil on Canvas, 6" sq., c. Catherine Vines

   

I'll bet you thought I meant the other kind of star!

I love the pose of this little girl. For one thing. she's normally not terribly "girly." (I hope that spelling is right; it completely bewildered my spell-check.)

What I don't love is the eyes not showing. A painting really comes alive for me when the eyes are looking back.

Here Comes the Bride - Oil Painting

Sheila at Her Bridal Shower

Oil on Canvas, 6" sq., c. Catherine Vines

   

Isn't she beautiful...and I'm not a bit prejudiced! 

We used to play this game where we would try to guess the occupations of strangers we saw. Would you guess that she is an airline captain?
I credit my father who used to take her as a toddler to watch the planes take off and land at Reagan Airport outside of Washington, D.C. 

Painting to Music

"Sheila at Her Bridal Shower" - In Progress

Oil on Canvas, 6" sq., c. Catherine Vines

   

Daily Paintworks offered a challenge a couple of weeks ago to paint your favorite piece of music.
At the time I didn't really have an idea. However, I noticed myself humming "Puff the Magic Dragon" while I worked on this painting of a young woman.  She just happens to be my daughter; and when she was little, that was one of her favorite songs.
You can see Peter, Paul and Mary perform the original if you click on the YouTube link.
  

Painting Little Girls in Oil

"Heather"  

Oil on Canvas, 6" sq., c. Catherine Vines

   

I know Heather because of my dog Luci.  They are great friends and Heather frequently comes by to take Luci for a walk or run. 

She is a very athletic little girl, at that wonderful stage just before becoming a teenager. Her hair is still that white blond that usually only toddlers have and she posed unselfconsciously for my painting. I love the openness of her expression.

Lucien Freud Has Died

Lucien Freud has died. To those of us who dream of painting portraits, he is a superhero.  Known for his thick impasto, love of yellow ochre, and psychological penetration of his subjects, his work is amazing. For more about him, read this issue of "Lines and Colors."
Just look at his painting below of Queen Elizabeth. She is said not to have admired it.

I will be throwing away everything I have painted.