Progress on Hat Lady in Pink

"Hat Lady in Pink" (later stage of progress), 5" x 7" oil on gessoed panel

earlier stage of progress on gessoed panel, 5" x 7"

Here is my start on another hat lady from my own collection, and it's only a start on her too, more fun to come!

Since she's almost finished, I've added a more recent version of my progress on top.

Completed Drawings of Corin and Ona

"Corin's Room", 8" x 10", graphite portrait drawing (click image to enlarge)

detail (click to enlarge)

"Ona's Room", 10" x 8", graphite portrait drawing (click to enlarge)

detail (click to enlarge)

Merry Christmas Ona and Corin!

Merry Christmas also to all of my blog readers and buyers, and thank you for watching my art journey this year! I hope your day has also included some snow.

progress on portrait drawings

Here is a detail from a 10" x 8" drawing I'm working on of Corin's sister Ona.

Ona loves horses, so she is holding a tiny colt, and sitting with some of her favorite dolls.

"Corin" in progress

"Corin", 10" x 8", (small work), graphite portrait in progress

Here is a study I've got going for a portrait effort. I've got errands to run today, so I'll get back to this later with a further post, but here is my friend Corin, in her room with some of her favorite dolls and treasures.

Additional note: took my signature off this original post-in-progress in case it was unclear, but it's a drawing still in progress, an informal scene, which will be including her favorite stuffed dog in front of her on a striped bedspread.

"Eric", Final Version

"Eric," 8 1/2" x 8", small work, final version of the pencil portrait of my nephew Eric

Although my initial drawing made a nice study of Eric himself, I wanted to spend some time on the clothing, but more specifically on the background of this drawing so it is clear to the viewer that Eric is on the subway. The reason is that Eric has loved trains and all things 'train' since the age of 3. He knows the NYC commuter and subway lines inside out (better than Aunt Mona who is a New Yorker of many years), as well as many other train networks around the world as a result of his enjoyment of trains. So of course he knew right away that this was drawn from a photo of him on his last birthday, while riding the "E" train!

....And More Birthday Art!

"David (my nephew) at 17", 4 5/8" x 4", (detail from graphite drawing)

Happy Birthday David (today, August 10th)!

"Lauren, (my niece) at 22", graphite drawing, 4 1/2" x 4"

Happy Birthday Lauren, Aug. 6th

As you can see there are a lot of summer birthdays in my family! At least two more birthday drawings coming up soon, but next is the finish on the rose miniature.

Sorting Out a Small Work on a Gold Leaf Panel

Detail of my drawing that will go in the center of the panel, overlapping

and following the lines of the inset area.

Icon panel, 13"W x 17"H

I spent part of today sorting out how I want to do a small work painting in oil on panel.  It's important for me to do a small work periodically, because it gives me an opportunity to loosen up my hand for the miniatures themselves.   I also want to try painting this one in oil over gold leaf.   It's something new for me, but I hope it will still be fun and interesting to see what I can come up with.

I have a special icon panel I ordered from Pandora, my panel supplier, just because I loved the shape, and I've been saving it for just the right painting, so maybe this is it.  I asked for this particular panel to be made slightly different from it's standard version that was being shown online (it originally had small window insets on the sides), and it is a real luxury that Pandora is willing to fulfill special requests like this.

I did a sketch in pencil from a photo I took of a friend and her baby daughter wearing a tulle ballet skirt.  I want the painting to crop tightly around their faces in a way that draws the viewer in.  I will apply the gold leaf all over the panel, allowing some of the gold leaf to peek through the oil paint to help give the painting a golden glow.  Above is a photo of my panel, and a portion of my pencil drawing (which didn't quite all fit on my scanner) that will be a guide for the painted version. 

The panel has an icon-style indentation that follows the pattern of it's outer shape, and it's a smaller area than I want to paint in, so I decided I will allow the painting to expand out beyond the in-set area about 1/2", while still following it's shape.  Doing this may even wind up adding further interest.  My next step will be to cover the panel with leaf, and allow it to set overnight. 

I will be oil gilding, and in this instance using imitation gold leaf, which will still have the same rich effect as real gold leaf in terms of it's overall impact.

I'll post more progress on Aretha tomorrow........

"Ship Flag, Star of India"

"Ship's U.S. Flag, Star of India," 7" x 9" egg tempera on panel, Available

Although a small work is not an authentic miniature, this small work painting is the first of two flag paintings I've been working on for "Almost Miniatures" at Francesca Anderson Fine Art in Lexington, MA., a show of both miniatures and small works.  I am doing one of each for this show.

Just an announcement also that in mid-Nov. I will be able to return to posting miniatures daily. Some of these will be selling via eBay auction, and others will be sold directly from this blog via 'buy it' buttons.   I'm grateful for your patience in the meantime while I complete my preparations for the two remaining shows I am submitting work for.  Over the next two weeks I will continue to post updates on my show progress.

The Difference Between a Miniature and a Small Work

"San Diego Freedom Flag," 4" x 6", 

egg tempera masterwork miniature on Kelmscott vellum - SOLD

Masterwork miniature, Third Prize for medium, MASF 2008 annual show

                                            

a small work of the same flag with a cloudless sky 

7" x 9" egg tempera on panel, masterwork (in progress)

Do you know the difference between a miniature and a small work?  Shown first is my miniature painting called "San Diego Freedom Flag," which is now in the collection of Joan Christie.  The second piece is an example of a "small work" in progress which I am preparing for a show called "Almost Miniatures" at Francesca Anderson Gallery in Lexington, MA .  

One of my goals with this blog is to share information about miniature painting and about the definition of a miniature, since currently there exists some confusion about appropriate use of the term 'miniature'.  The "Almost Miniatures" show will feature an interesting mix of both miniature paintings and small work paintings.  A small work differs from a miniature in that it does not necessarily portray a subject at 1/6th scale of life size, and its format is small, but still larger than 25 inches square, which typifies a mini.  A small work will generally range from 5 in. x 7 in. to 12 in. x 12 in.  For more information on how various miniature painting societies around the globe define the parameters of a miniature, please click here.

I am progressing on several miniatures, and hope to post at least two of these tomorrow.