The Les collection from Open Studios
 

The workshop (Bill Whitaker workshop) attended by a lot of the members made me all jealous that nobody came by and said hi to me in the evening.

Now, CHRIS SAPER suggested I post my picture of Les in the open studio, but I have a lot of pictures of him, unfortunately.

He is one of our character models, mostly in cowboy hat. This is his favorite of himself. He is employed at a cowboy amusement park as one of the characters and I guess this is his alter ego.

Sans hat
 

I did this one about a year ago and it is the only one I have without the hat to actually compare to the paintings in the workshop.

White hat
 

The first I did of him, and one of my favorites, using lots of oil and palette knife.

My latest, but not my favorite
 

Richard Huante posted his version of the same day in this forum as well.

I am not happy with it as it is too big for the format and way to bright, but I did get a lot of comment on the brilliance of the colors. I would call it garish, but with only three hours I don't improvise away from the model.

Debra,

These are great. They feel very alive and spontaneous. I also really like the last one, the colors are so vibrant. It seems that if he was daydreaming while looking out the window at horses in the field (or something of that nature), it would make a great figurative painting. It amazes me how fast you work.

Regards,
Holly

Hi there Debra,

So fresh and strong, as always! Thanks for posting these. (Les must be the most frequently painted man west of the Mississippi.)

You thought I was done.
Monday before Thanksgiving.

And Linda is right.
On his link, Paul Leveille had him as the watercolor demo.

Debra, what a beautiful HOT painting. If you vere to drop water on his cheek it would just "fizz" and vanish. So beautifully painted and so inspiring. Thank you for sharing your paintings, I just love them!

Hanna

Debra, this is my favorite painting of all the ones I've ever seen (and done) of Les. Gorgeous!

Was he lighted that way, with a hot red spot from one side?

Stolen gels.
 

Our studio moderator found Sally Strand's lighting gels and we did a low red gel on him. I LOVE low lighted subjects. I have had nothing but good results in the painting and the reception. I believe there are a number of psychological things at work with a low light source, secondary or primary.

First, as an artist, I have to think harder. The light UNDER the nose, and below the upper lid are all forcing me to see.

Second, there is a romantic candlelit suggestion. In modern light, it is all from above. Candles and fireplaces and all of the sources we see in older paintings are the only artificial light available. Except once when it reeked of television, all of my low light pictures are highly dramatic and emotional. The temperature of this one, overwhelmed the overhead incandescent. So cowboy Les was sitting by the fire in his ski sweater... ok!