Egon - at home
 

Egon in his favorite sofa.

Oil on linen 25" X 23".

Allan

Great character. Would you mind a closeup of the hand?

Allen, that is a lovely and sensitive portrait. And what a great model as well!

Jimmie,

The hand of a Bricklayer !

Kim, you get his head.

Thank you both, Allan

Allan,

So fresh and loose! lovely surface quality, congratulations.

Allan, this is really wonderful. Is it just me, or do you also feel that your work has gotten much more sophisticated in the past few months? To me, you seem to have turned some kind of corner in your artwork. Congratulations on this fine painting!

Great painting Allan! Loose, yet still architecturally sound.

I'm really liking the consistency of cool tints throughout this work. What's such a great foil to this is the warmth of this man's character and the ease of the pose. Very successful, indeed.

Chris,

Thanks for noticing the loose character of my painting, cause that

Linda,

Actually, this last year has been a constant revision of my attitude to art. I feel that I have learned a lot from you folks!

The most important turn must be that I have realized that I have to follow my own desires, or taste, if I shall do anything of interest to others ! I will no longer be dictated of modern art books and exhibitions, basta!!

Just wish that I

Thank you Mike,

Talking about architecture, one of the prominent themes of the day is the floating image of construction, the seemingly weightless buildings. They still have to have a solid foundation, right?

Allan

Wow!!!!!!
 

Allan,

I just decided: I'm coming over to learn from you!

Sincerely,

Garth

Thanks Rob,

This painting is based on a reference I took one rainy day. The light was very low and soft and I knew that I had to paint it.
My Friend Egon is a natural, he can

Garth,

Do that, I

Allan,
This is so nice! I just love his expression. Makes me want to sit with him awhile and have a nice warm chat! I do so enjoy your paintings!!

Pat,

I

Just great Allan! It reminds me of Sargent, have you been studying his work?

By the way, did you come to my Country for Christmas?

Have a great time painting!
See ya!

Allan,
How lucky to have such a great character as a friend. Congrads on another great work.
Jerome

Thank you Bonfim,

I did have the chance of studying Sargent recently while I was in London for a week. He had his Tite Street Studio for many years and painted everybody that could afford it. Many of these portraits are now in the National Gallery, Tate and National Portrait Gallery in London.
I was surprised of how well they stood up to the "Old Masters" like Van Dyck, Hals, Titian and Velasquez in all matters.
They were also very well preserved which proves that his technique is safe and one that can be used of todays artists.
I believe that what Marvin Mattelson teach is the same as Sargents technique.
I bought a heavy book, Sargent: The Later Portraits.

The technique in my painting is a mix of thin layers and impasto. The composition, I agree, could be inspired from Sargent, but I think that he would have chosen a more dramatic background. I just did it the way I felt it should be to match Egon.

Brazil will be this next Christmas, the house is being built now.

Allan

Thanks Garth,

I appreciate his friendship very much and I think that I am going to take advantage of it for more paintings. ;)

Allan

Hi Allan,

We had a major computer crash here, so I haven't been around for a while. Now we have a bigger, faster, computer and I come back to such a treat! It was worth the delay and frustration of being "computerless".

I love this one too Allan, and can't wait to see his wife.

Jean

Thank you Jean,

I wish that I had a newer and more powerful computer. I have got the Photo Shop, but every time I try to work with a "Raw" photo I almost kill it.

How is your painting going?

Allan

Hi Allan,

We're lucky to have a live-in computer guru (my son). When the computer crashed, he and my hubby ordered new guts for our old one and Friday night they tore everything apart on the kitchen table. A bigger, faster hard drive, memory and a bunch of stuff I don't care to learn about. So we have a glorified older Mac now for a lot less money. :sunnysmil

I have Photoshop but still don't use it much, I do most of my planning by sketching and figure I should learn to see value with my eyes even if it takes me longer.

"The Rose" is done and I will post it as soon as I can get a decent shot of it, and finish transfering my 4000+ photos from the external hard drive to the new photo program (boring). Thank you for all your help on it.

I need to go on a search for a model like Egon, he has such a kind face and manner. Your paintings of him are inspiring.

Jean

Allan,
I appreciate your stories of Egon and his wife and your drawing trips. This is what attracts me to portraiture in the first place. Every portrait is an impression of a human being who has a life, a soul, a personality. Endless subjects of interest. When I draw a portrait, especially from an old photograph I feel like I am getting to know the person, just through studying their features, their eyes, their expression. That is what is so good about your paintings. They all seem to tell a good story!!

I went back to your post of Egon to look at the drawing above his head and had a pleasant moment, just thinking about your story!

Patricia,

The drawing on the painting is at its actual place on the wall.
Another day I visited the family and told them about this portrait project and told them how well it was received on this forum. They were very happy for me and send there regards to all.

Egon is a former Bricklayer and still an active draughtsman, doing landscapes and building motives.
To do just to his drawing I will ad the original.

Jean,

Excited to see "The Rose"


Allan