sketch from life

This one I drew a couple of weeks ago, about 15 minutes, pastel.

This is pastel,too, and took about 20 minutes, then another 10 minutes the next day just to refine it. My son was kind enough to allow me to draw him while he playstationed. I might call it "Regrowth".

3rd portrait sketch

I had this ready to show from yesterday. Another artist that sat for me, I love the way she posed with her hand in this position. She was so patient. Life drawing this afternoon!

portrait demonstrations

Today I was invited to a local Art Society open day to draw portrait demonstrations.
Although it's one of the most difficult ways to draw a portrait, it is also the best practice! It makes me draw fast, which makes me more accurate (I don't have time to think).
It's also good practice to 'tune out' whatever distractions are going on around me
I can usually persuade someone to sit for 10 minutes. I always wish for more time! I love to be able to do justice to the person.
These are some of the other artists that agreed to sit for me. They liked them.... and two bought them!

The process of a portrait

This is a commission I completed in October. The family wanted their portrait in front of their spectacular view. A landscape as well as a portrait.
I used a combination of photos and sketches. I take many photos with my digital camera, then show them on their TV. This allows the family to see which aspects they would like in the portrait, and gives them a say in how the portrait will look. Each person then sits for a sketch, which allows me to 'learn' their face. Useful in the portrait process.
This is one of the largest portraits I have done. It's almost life-sized. They were very happy with the result. When I began the painting, the hills were very dry, as we were in the middle of a drought. As I worked on the painting, we got more rain. It looks very much like this now.

some of my paintings

'Blue Lake' 60 cm x 40 cm. oil on canvas.
available to buy, contact me
I painted this a few months ago. I took photos early one morning near my home. I liked the way there were patches of still water and some ruffled by the breeze. The distant mountain contrasted with the warmth of the distant shoreline.