Shawn looking forward
 

Hi everyone

The sluggish Michigan economy is giving me time to play with my own paintings instead of commissions. This is a painting of my son and his unruly hair. He is much taller than me and this is how I commonly view him. I am practicing on speed, and on using a limited palette. This took 3 days and I used Cad Red Medium, Cad Yellow Medium, Ultramarine Blue, Ivory Black, and Titanium White, I under painted with a mixture of Transparent Red Oxide and Phthalo Green.

In real life the contrast between the hair and the skin is softer and the contrast between the cool light on the left and the skin is harder but I could not convince my camera of this.

Of all the paintings I have done of him this is the closest I have come to capturing his personality.

Thank you for viewing.

Vianna Szabo

Vianna, It looks like I'm the first one to say what a wonderful painting this is. I'm sure dozens of others will chime in, too! This is really, really nice. Be very proud. Janet

Vianna,

I agree with Janet; this is quite wonderful! This is well composed and designed and seems to really capture your son. I'm impressed you did this on such a limited palette, for your color quality seems very good.

Garth

Hello, Vianna,

I'd like to add my "outstanding". Beautiful painting. I love the pose color, harmony and the drawing.

Outstanding!

Those star-quality lips agin!
 

Vianna, I love this! You really captured something in this portrait. Even though you feel the camera didn't quite capture the transitions (I can sympathize because even professional photos sometimes frustrate me), the colors in the skin and hair work extremely well. The real beauty, though, lies in the intangible aspects.

Thank you, Janet, Garth,John, and Alexandra

This was a lot of fun to paint and I find the limited palette liberating. You can still mix an endless array of colors and tones without losing the unity of the original colors. Thank you also for the kind words about the "intangible aspects". This painting has a few rough spots but I felt I reached a point where it became him and decided to stop.

Those are indeed some terrific lips on that kid.

Thank you again for your comments.
Vianna

Vianna, what a strong convincing work.
I like the composition and the size of the head in the canvas, it says something about how close you are
Ilaria

Vianna, this is wonderful. Isn't it amazing what happens when the pressure is off!

I have a daughter her could meet! ;)

Vianna, this is beautiful! Your son and your painting simply wonderful! I would not fret to much about your camera you mixed and placed what you saw and where you saw it and you feel good. Enjoy.

If we could only relax and execute each peace in the same manor. I believe life would be much simpler with more moments like this.

I love your subtle transitions. Could I trouble you for a few close ups? A bit closer for the shadow and light relationship, the nose eye triangle and then the neck.

Wish you all the best,
mischa

Vianna, I love your lush painting style - such a beautiful painting!

Very nice...I think it's wonderful that you took the opportunity to paint your son at this great age. He's beautiful.

My youngest is 19 with crazy, curly hair and I liked using him as a model just so I could study it. Now he has shaved it off!

Your son will always treasure this.

Close ups
 

Thank you everyone for your kind words. Sometimes it's difficult to judge your own painting and I appreciate the comments. He is at a great age to paint. We are being swamped with college ads and the view of him looking forward seemed to fit.

I have attached some close ups. Some of the under painting of Transparent Red Oxide and Phthalo Green is showing through. I would normally paint up to the face but the red helped pop out the green light. It also worked as the soft edge of the wayward hair. I am also working on my paint application. I don't think I use it to the best advantage to show the form.

It is true that I work in a different mode on these paintings verses commissions. It would be nice to bring the same energy to them.

Elizabeth, you will have to paint your daughter too:-)
Maybe we can set something up......

Vianna

Vianna--
Wanted to say how much I like this! I've come back several times to look at it again and really appreciate the closeups. Especially love the free way you've handled the paint!

Vianna, just got around to noticing the close-ups. Thank you!

Vianna,

Those fabulous lips again! Another wonderful painting, beautiful and done at an interesting angle. Great skin tones.

Vianna, thanks for the closeups. They show how well you have used color and temperature to model your son. What a great model and portrait.

Thank you, Joy,Terri, Mischa, Sharon, and Richard.

I am lucky to have a terrific model living at home. Those great lips and wild hair make him a lot of fun. The fun of painting your own kids is that you can experiment on them. That sounds bad but you know what I mean! I was pleased because he liked it. Last time I impressed him with my work was when I drew the interior of a car for a billboard.

Vianna