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.