portrait of Nick

I have been really busy these last few months and have been neglecting to update this blog, so FINALLY found a minute to share this portrait I have recently been commissioned to paint of this 11 year old boy, Nick. I have posted two pictures of it, unfortunately there is a slight glare on the top half of the painting. Portraits are my new favorite thing to paint right now... I have a bunch more in progress and will post those when they are finished. I am a bit of a nit picky painter... I tend to work many hours and weeks on the paintings, still I am trying to loosen up a bit, I think I have been unsuccessful with that:( but on I go , I keep on trying... )

I finally finished these pomegranates for my friend Jason, he has patiently waited for this here painting... wish I were a better photographer, this painting is heavily glazed, and I just could not get a good photo with out the glare. I do think the painting turned out nice, I had my worries and for some reason struggled with this one a lot. Im so glad it is finished.

Portrait of Corinna

I just finished this portrait this morning! I did start this painting while Corinna sat for me at the kitchen table, but soon she became bored and I had to snap a photo to finish this one. I really like the way it turned out! it really captures her personality... I cant wait to do my other kids.

Portrait of Adelaide

I have been working on this portrait for about a week now... it is about 50% finished, I always start my paintings very monochromatic... and work the color as I go, layer by layer... I think this one is looking pretty good so far... I will keep you updated as I finish this piece....

Owl

This is a quick little owl painting commissioned by An old good friend Jim Linnemann. Its the second one I painted of its kind, because the first one was stolen! (I will take that as a compliment!)

Self Portrait

This Truly was a learning piece! many hours of painting, I call this my "practice piece" because certainly this is not a "master piece" :) but Im finished with this one, its time to move on!

Star Fruit

This is a still life I just finished for my friend Jason. Its 8"x11" painted in oil, and heavily glazed. It was difficult to get a good photo of this one due to the glare... also it is cropped a bit too much on the left side, but you can still get an idea of what it's like... (its much nicer in real life!) 

Kitchen corner studio

This is my temporary art space I have set up in my kitchen, I have been working here until my studio is finished being set up, which is out  in one of our "out buildings" here at our old farm house. (just to give you an idea of where I have been working lately) the studio should be up and running by the middle of the next month, hopefully!

This is a pencil drawing that I worked on a few days ago just for practice, I really like how it turned out as far as sketches go. I had the urge to draw, so I began to draw the first thing that I saw. I am sure to do many more still lives of toys in the future... they are all over my house!

Baby Doll

This is a portrait I have just finished in pencil. I worked from a photograph, I would rather work from life as it seems to lend itself to a more free and less labored feel to the piece of work. I will post more sketches from life, and then some from photos... and see if you can tell the difference in the feel of the piece. This is a Portrait of Maggie, my step daughter.

Maggie

Still life with Wine Bottle

This is one of the paintings from my website, I will post just a few of these paintings here on this blog, if you would like to see more of my paintings from the last few years... go check 'em out at:

www.kensingtongalleries.com In the mean time I would like to post my latest happenings from the studio, keep in mind that I am just getting warmed up, as I have had a break in the creation process due to the other part of my life... (which has been my new little girl born last Christmas, the last of 4) So I will be working on Drawings, still lives and portraits... then onto my paintings of still lives and portraits... so, keep checking back to see what I've been up to...

and Enjoy!