Toni
 

Hi folks,

Here is a relatively quick and modest portrait of a very nice doctor for a women's clinic. Toni is simply dressed in her professional way. Her background is a large abstract painting that has personal significance to her. What could be more simple? This was realized both from photographs and several live sittings. Among other things, I painted her navy jacket from life, which is interesting because there is virtually no blue in most the painted navy color (color interpretation being a relative thing). I hope Toni's kind nature comes through.

30 x 23 inches, oil on linen (Fredrix Rix double lead-oil primed). As always, your generous feedback is appreciated.

Garth

Hi Garth -

This is lovely. Wish she was MY doctor - the warm tones match the warmth of her smile. Simple and beautiful.

Garth, this is fabulous! Her nature is coming through loud and clear no doubt about it. Grate job! Such excellent variations in skin ton. You have depicted the hands so wonderfully. Please, I would love to see close ups eye, cheek, chin, and neck shadows. and closer on the hands please.

Garth you and your work have been an inspiration in many ways. Thank you!

Regards,
mischa

P.S. The portrait of A. Bocelli done by shanks was held in/at a small church near the Fortezza Firmafede, Sarzana 2004. He had also exhibited some of his works at the Forteza like like the Portrait J.P. II amongst others. I got to spend a day there and it was quite educational. We talked about his portrait of Bocelli and he was quite sad that he did not have a chance to finish it.

Hello Garth,

Very nice! I know Toni loves it. The simple is beautiful when done well and you have done better than well.

And once again you have raised the bar for the rest of us. I feel like I did when I was six trying to play basketball with my older brother. If I keep at it someday I'll be able to play as well.

Thanks for sharing.

Garth, this is gorgeous! Her expression is so warm and comfortable, natural. I especially love how you've handled her hands and those glasses, and the dual light source. Spectacular!

Garth,
What a warm and inviting painting. She looks like she could step out of the painting and be your best friend. Capturing such human qualities is always difficult and you have done a masterful job...as always!

Dear Garth,

Another fabuous painting! It's so- well- right. Congratulations!

A beautiful painting Garth.

How fortunate to have client willing to sit, her warmth shines through.

Wow, thanks!
 

Dear Julie, Mischa, John, Terri, Richard, Chris, and Sharon,

What a delightful greeting from each of you; my sincere appreciation!

Toni is a warm person, and an instant friend, Although she was not originally completely comfortable with having her portrait for the clinic, it is something of an understanding that each partner in the practice will have his or her portrait commissioned when they turn fifty. She is the youngest of them; I have done three other partner's commissions over the last few years. I do have to admit, Toni's is my favorite. She seems so comfortable. I know she is a wonderful doctor.

Julie, I'm sure Toni would enjoy working for you too.

Mischa, the detail is not more than impressionistic here. If all insist, I'll produce a closer-up view, but I don't think there is much more to see. I tend to envy everyone here that produces flawless sharp details routinely. I have been satisfied with the suggestion of more than there actually is painted.

John, the bar? I didn't notice it move yet; don't worry!

Terri, the dual ight source is always tricky. Thanks for your compliments. I did a setup on location with one of my Lowel Tota-lites (halogen). That certainly adds some warmth. Just be careful to have a similar light on the canvas while painting, as is on the subject. Yes, I can get into trouble at times.

Thanks Richard, she's an instant best friend. That could not have been understated.

Dear Chris, and Sharon, thanks, I was fortunate that she could sit. Photos just don't yet measure up for color. She might have ended up with greenish hair! It has a soft reddish cast, the camera did not pick up.

Garth

Oh Garth, another knockout of a painting, with great warmth and virtuosity of style. I love the idea of putting a figure in front of another painting.

I always get a feeling of approachability when I see your subjects, they draw the viewer toward them. This isn't easy to do.

I think you need to explain "velaturea" to me again, by the way.

It's beautiful, Garth!

Dear Linda,

Thank you. I follow your precedence with this sort of setup.

As to velaturas, there is not much example in this current painting (but they are not absent either). A velatura is akin to a glaze, but is semi-opaque and generally a lighter veil of color over a darker sub-layer. Unique optical properties come into play with a velatura, creating color effects not otherwise obtainable. Everyone should try this out and see the possibilities.

Garth

Garth,
Just another stunning portrait. Where do you buy all that canvas?

I share your taste for the soft colorful earth colors and think that I would recognize your paintings on the ochres.

It

Dear Allan,

By your response I am quite honored. Judging by your current show, you are the master! Thanks.

Edit: Oh yes your canvas question. There are cheaper suppliers of this product online, but I went to the local Pearl art supply, being in a hurry as usual.

Garth

Garth,

Every time I see you post something, I have a feeling that the next big lesson is about to begin. And I'm never disappointed. While I eagerly try to assimilate the riches you are showing us all, I am also turning several shades of viridian with that old, familiar deadly sin. This is stunning. You are a consummate painter of light. The cool natural side light that meshes perfectly with the warm halogen glow...your values and color temperature are, as always, dead accurate. You remind me of something Tony Ryder said (in the latest - 4/06 - Artist's Magazine article): ...."I've always felt that the best art combines clarity of thought with depth of feeling." I also consider "clarity of thought" to include fluency, virtuosity, accuracy in the given medium. And the "depth of feeling" part of the equation ...You've got buckets 'o' both, my friend.
I think your focus on "the suggestion of more than there actually is" is a big part of why your paintings are so successful. I think that rendering "flawlessly sharp details" can easily go too far - it can be a real trap. This is a big subject, and I won't belabor it. Suffice it to say, I think your envy is misplaced - our envy is not. :)

David

Wow!
 

This is wonderful, Garth! She looks so friendly and approachable and utterly real. A very warm, sympathetic doctor and a sharp diagnostician. Just what we all need.

As I told you, I like the understated and yet very successful way in which you arranged her slightly off center. Her folded hands counterbalance her head nicely and add to that responsive "good-listener" quality she has.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Alex

Dear David,

You must know I am floored by your eloqence. You are such a fine teacher and artist and I continue to be viridianned [sp] as well at the thought of your lucky students! Suffice to say, you are a master I admire, and I do envy your finish and polish. Don't change from that very much. Thank you so much for your very complimentary response, friend!

Garth

[QUOTE=Garth Herrick}I'll produce a closer-up view, but I don't think there is much more to see.[/QUOTE]

Please do post the details! That is exactly what we want to see: how you made "something" out of "nothing!"

Hi Alex,

I am so proud of your accomplishments and am thrilled with your emerging recognition. You always have the best things to say too! I am glad Toni reads as a great listener and diagnostician in her portrait. I know you would like her; she's just as humble and engaging in her approach as you are. Thanks!

Garth

Well Alex,

Here is an extreme shot of the detail, or lack thereof. The sun was raking across the canvas in this shot, exaggerating the surface detail.

Garth

Ditto what everybody said Garth.
If that is a quick portrait you should remember me in you Easter list.
Congrats.

Ps.
 

Do you have it in progress????

Thanks Bonfim, you're on the list now.

Here's a progress shot I found. Everything has been overpainted since, after some sittings.

Garth

Thanks a lot Garth,
By the way, I'd like to virtually visit your studio. I know you to be a paint tube collector.

Bonfim.

You are welcome to virtually drop by, anytime! [I know, I know, ...but how?]

One thing that magically happened when Toni sat for me after that state of progress above, is her navy jacket is of such a weight and quality of wool, that it settled in exactly the same folds as in the photo reference several months prior; making it easy to rework from life. I love it when that happens!

Garth

A good way is this one http://forum.portraitartist.com/forumdisplay.php?f=68

Garth,
I echo everyone to tell you that it's simply elegant. ( and I loved the close up)

Hi Marina,

Thanks. Saying "elegant" means a lot to me!

Garth

Garth--

Really fine....simple, direct, great character.

I appreciate the progress views too: it's always nice to get a look at the process.

--Tom

Thanks so much Tom.

Well it's really only one progress view paired with the finish. This time I borrowed new member Richard Murdock's approach of drawing a grid on the canvas and generally locating points within that broad grid. The progress shot above shows the moment I managed to bury that grid from visibility; something I did as quickly as possible! That state above was perhaps a couple days into this portrait, and everything was essentially there, at least as a value hierarchy. Sometimes it's refreshing to try a different and simple approach.

Edit: It was not too intensive a grid: I think I spaced the squares about every three inches, which felt comfortably free but accurate enough, and very efficient for a quick mapping.

Garth

OK Garth,
I let the dinner burn just now looking at your painting!! I am in awe again - and will love to study this one.

Jane

Grids have been used for hundreds of years. By great painters.

Leon Loard Portraits has an entire product line of paintings that are basically colored over photo images. I can promise you that if my dear sweet husband was faced with a photo-ed canvas he would screw it up in 2 minutes, and not have a clue where to go..;No matter how a painter starts, if there is no drawing skill, it can't be rescued.

That is one of the reasons it is so essential to practice regularly from life.

Ha!
 

That is one of the reasons it is so essential to practice regularly from life.[/QUOTE]

Spot on! That's all I have to say, Ms. Saper!
:D

Garth, this one is another winnner. Congratulations.

Jane, my friend, from you, I am quite complimented. Thanks, and I hope your dinner worked out!

Garth

Dear Chris,

Yikes :o ! While I have once thought of this cheat myself, I would never do it. Imagine how tight one would have to paint within the lines! No way!

But who knows, the general public might not know the difference between what is paint and what is photo-ground, and just say this artist is so good to be painting just like a photograph; a high compliment!

I have a related experience though: For the judge I recently painted, a color photo was needed for the printed unveiling program. My portrait was not yet up to snuff to show, so I merged the painting with the reference photo in Photoshop, and submitted that digitally. That's a big no no! Well suffice to say, everyone at the courthouse was ecstatic at how photo-real the painting looked in it's progress, and I was beet-red with embarassment. I did not tell them of the nature of the merged images, and the printed reproduction was terrible in the end, which was probably just as well! Don't try this at home! :D (Hey, what happpened to the old smilies? I liked them!)

A secret of the day.

Garth

Spot on! That's all I have to say, Ms. Saper!
:D[/QUOTE]
Hi Carol,

I concur with you both. Essential!

Garth

Winnner
 

Hi Gary,

Thanks for your compliment, I feel like a bigger winner with that extra N!

Appreciatively,

Garth :sunnysmil

Another winner! I particularly like the subtle cool light from the right.

Speaking of grids, in the movie "Girl with a Pearl Earring" you can see a frame-and-thread grid device hanging on the wall in Vermeer's studio.

Another gorgeous painting, Garth! What can I say about this work that I haven't said about your others? Her caring personality shines through--wonderful painting!

take care,

Renee

Lovely!
 

Garth,

This is one of the most lovely renditions I've ever seen that tributes an equally lovely personality. This woman's portrait just radiates with what I call a truly "servant hearted" demeanor. I, like someone earlier said, would wish that I could know a doctor such as this.

Oh, and your painterly strokes are the same as always...........AWESOME! :D :thumbsup: :exclamati

Your friend,
Geary