My first oil portrait
 

I'm thinking of calling this one "Gridiron Guts & Glory." What do you think?

Remember, this is the "Unveilings" section - so no critiques here :) .

Oil on canvasboard, 11 X 14.

Oh, I forgot to mention, I did this painting in 1970 - I was 12 years old then :) . It was my first painting ever, and (of course) it was a portrait!... sort of. I had completely forgotten that I had even done this painting

David,
This one was fun to see. As they say, " You have come a long way man".

Hi David--What a fun story and how neat to rediscover your first painting effort!

I'd love to see your 'Buddhist Nun. . .' but no image is showing for it, at least on my monitor :bewildere . . .

David, I am just knocked out by your Buddist Nun. It is fantastic. Promise me you will enter this one in contest after contest, it is a real winner.

I don't know what else to say to a first-time oil painter, but I might go slit my throat with my palette knife.

David - Im going to have to disagree with Linda. Please dont enter this in any competitions I am entering.

Holy moley. Im blown away.

Oh, David!



I'm speechless........

Jean

Oooooh David. . . I see her now. Positively gorgeous!!! You've given her such dignity, character and warmth. She glows. Absolutely stunning.

Well, David, you have inspired me again. This time I am inspired to put all of my paintings behind needlework so no one can see them.

You rock.

Very beautiful David, I like the values in both portraits.

Wow, David! Your Bhuddist Nun is outstanding in so many ways. I especially love her expression, the glowing light and the simplicity. And I really enjoyed seeing your first attempt at oils. Thanks for posting them both.

David,

This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing and raising the bar.

Richard, thank you very much for your kind words.

Just make sure you don't have any flake white on your palette knife - you don't want to get lead poisoning! Really, thank you very much Linda. Coming from one as accomplished as yourself, your praise is cherished.

I'm not sure I want to enter any competitions you are in!! Call me, we'll work something out. Seriously, thanks so much for your positive feedback.

Jean, thanks so much.

Terri, thanks so much! You know when I got home last summer, and saw the photos of this nun, I knew they were good - my camera wasn't so hot and the color left something to be desired (I invented a bit) - they really did seem to capture something of her spirit. I only spent 15 minutes with her - she was a resident of this incredible 1500 year old temple complex, and she invited me into this little room - more like an alcove - to this little alter, to pray and burn a little incense. I didn't understand a word she said, but she just seemed to beam happiness. I was very impressed with her.

If the alternative is that you're tempted to destroy any of your gorgeous work, then I find that backing needleworks with paintings is great from a conservation standpoint. Or you can just give me some of them! Seriously Lisa, thank you, thank you, thank you! You rock!

I'm especially glad you like the first potrait - it seems like everybody likes the stupid nun portrait, and aren't giving Gridiron, Guts & Glory its due consideration!! :bewildere What's up with that? Thank you, Claudemir.

Alexandra, thank you so much! You should know that I wasn't going to post the "adolescent" painting until I saw the incredible pieces you did as a child. They were so delightful - I just want to say again: thank you so much for posting those. It was such a treat. You know, since painting is so new to me, I feel I'm at the beginning of a VERY steep learning curve - there is so much I don't know. Your comments are a real boost. Thanks.

John, thanks so much - you are quite kind.

Wonderful painting! Simple and dramatic composition, still, yet full of narrative. She makes me smile right back at her. Your paint handling ROCKS.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Cindy, thank you very much! I never thought I had (or ever would have) much of a sense of narrative in any of my work, so I am pleased that you think so. After seeing your awesome Ballerina Girl, I'm inspired to do a figurative piece before long...but I probably should do a few more simple portraits, to figure out what I'm doing.

This whole painting thing - I'm hooked. I can't wait to do more. I now SO envy any of you lucky ones out there who get to do this full time.
....someday...(sigh)... :(

I am speechless!
 

Dear David,

When I don't know how it is possible for you to improve beyond your existing artistic mastery, you do it again, showing absolute mastery of a new medium. I am finding you like several other pastel masters here in this Forum, have superior ability to make the successful transition to oils. You have razor perfect value and drawing skills that mesh perfectly with oils for a higher level of perfection than has been seen in realism up to this point.

Yes, do enter this everywhere, even though the rest of us won't stand a chance in the same competition. I hope you are entering this in the Portrait Society of America's international competition this year. I will come to Dallas to see this in person; that may clinch the deal for me to attend!

I love this composition too! There is such an affinity of curves echoing out from the corner, to her kind and soft face. What a serene expression! May I be among the first to add this image has a strong retinal burn factor as well. She stays on my mind. I am proud to have met you.

Kudos!

Garth

(well FWIW, here's my first oil. 1962, age four. See, even your first oil was much better than mine!): ;)

Well, Garth, after reading that I truly am flattered - especially as it is coming from YOU!!! I can't quite bring myself to believe what you are saying is true - I think you are being overly generous - but I sure hope someday to be worthy of that high praise. Thank you.
You better come to Dallas!! After seeing your Judge portrait I want to sit down with you for about six hours and pick your brains. Just consider me a very dry sponge.
Well I for one TOTALLY...no, I VEHEMENTLY disagree with you on this one. This piece is an Abstract Expressionist masterpiece (though not being entirely abstract). I think it stands with the very best expressionist work of the 20th century. I'm dead serious. What an imagination you had - at 4 years of age!! The balanced composition, design is so sophisticated, my eye moves around easily and confidently, discovering all the marvellous creatures you've so joyously depicted. It is grand. I know some people might think, "boy, this guy has a screw loose somewhere.." but I mean it. Your genius was quite evident in 1962.

David

"She beams with happiness." That is the best way to say what entered my mind when I looked at your portrait; of the nun that is. : )

She is absolutely beautiful. I smiled right back at her.

As for your fist oil portrait, I have to say for your first time I'd say you did very well. I also might add ...... I think you have come a long way.

Thanks for posting these.

David, what a perfect work!
Also many compliments to your mom ( and garth's too) for keeping your early masterpiece, mine is a cleaning freak and chucked everything aaway.
Ilaria

David - you amaze us every time you share one of your works! Masterful.

David--

Sorry to not have come by sooner...this is fabulous!

Best--TE

Incredible. I fully expect this to bring many "Best of Show" awards in the coming years.

Janel, thank you very much for your nice words.

Ilaria, thank you and congratulations on your recent acceptance to the RSPP exhibition - what an honor. I'm sorry your early work was lost - there is always something touching about children's art...and I would have loved to have seen yours - but at least we get to see your current work!

Julie, thank you so much!

Tom, thanks! So will we get to see you in Dallas? I'm assuming so. I will always remember the great advice you gave me last year.
Michele, I don't know about that, but I'm ready to begin trying. It's time I think, for me to come out of my cave. Thanks!

David, I have always been a great fan of your work and just about fell of my chair when I saw this one. It is incredible! What can I possible say that no one else has already said?

Where did you say you lived? I remember you where somewhere in my neck of the woods. I would love to come over and pick your brain on how you achieved such a stunning likeness. Since we seem to love the same subject matter (very old people- from far corners of the world) I am just aghast how lively your portraits look!

I am blabbering now, forgive me....Just awesome!

David I must admit, I really like that football player! ;)

Well, the other one isn't bad either!

IT'S AWESOME!
:)
Beth

Enzie, we do love the same subject matter. I love older people, especially from all the various cultures of the world. These faces have such a history that, I believe, can be captured in paint - but I'll have to admit, after the Buddhist nun and her ten thousand wrinkles, I can't wait to paint a youth with flawlessly smooth skin - I think it will be easy by comparison!

Yes, I am in your neck of the woods (Oceanside area). I actually saw you once, but missed the chance of meeting you.... at the SoCal ASOPA show in '03, I believe? I was lurking....I was, for a time, a member of SoCal ASOPA, but never could be very involved.

And thank you so much for your kind words.

Beth, well I'm glad someone likes my football player!! :) Seriously, thank you so much for your feedback. Means a lot.

David,

I must have scared you that you didn't come to say hi :oops:

I would have loved to meet you in person. It would have been great to meet someone from my area, who's work I truly admire.

Now regarding wrinkle burn out! I can so relate... I am currently working on a girl from Pakistan, who has smooth skin, but is also wearing this beaded necklace, which is driving me crazy. Are you working on something new?

Well, I'm in the middle of copying a Bouguereau (what a test!), but what I really need to do is paint from life. As I've said, I'm really at the beginning of a very steep (and of course, endless) learning curve...I just need to slap some paint around and begin to figure out what paint can really do....I am so not fluent with this medium, and that's my goal. There is an atelier in Encinitas that I hear is very good, and I understand that certain nights of the week, you can just show up, pay a reasonable model's fee and paint from life. This summer I will avail myself of this.

Let me know how you like the atelier. I could use the open studio practice as well and would not mind the drive if the group is small. LAPAPA has a studio at Laguna Canyon Drive, which offers a similar set up. Only problem is that there are too many people competing for a decent spot.

Good luck with your Bouguereau, there is so much to be learned. If you get a chance go and see his newly cleaned painting at the Getty. It is well worth beating the traffic and spending a good day just observing. I don't mind going up one more time and if you like we can go together and take the toll road up (beat some of this horrendous traffic!). I can share with you what I have learned at Marvin's workshop regarding the use of B's palette. Marvin is right on with his observations and advise on how to go about achieving certain result. If you have not gone up yet, Email me and I bring my palette swatch and notes I took at the workshop.

Oh, David, this just knocks my socks right off. What a really spectacular painting!

Congratulations!