Jr. Achievement Portraits
 

Hi All,

I haven't been around for a while, but I'm trying to get more disciplined these days in my work and could really use some encouragement. Here are the three laureates I painted for JA this year. All comments are welcome. Thanks in advance!

Christy

Really nice fresh brushwork and colors, Christy! Simple and well done.
I especially like nos. 1 and 3.

Christy, the JA people made a smart move when they joined forces with you. I get a strong impression of the individual in each one. Your colors are lifelike, and the brushstrokes are deft yet sensitive and not slick. I don't know how you do so many of these and still make each one different yet consistent.

Julie and Alexandra, thank you so much. I was pleased with how they came out. I was especially happy with the outcome of the first portrait. He congratulated me on "making an old war horse look elegant"! It wasn't difficult; he truly is an elegant man.

I share the building where my studio is located with a photographer. He and I worked together to take the photos I used for the first two in his photography studio using artificial light. For the last portrait I took the photo on my own using my studio's north light.

Christy,

I agree! They all have a fresh and painterly look. You've shared an excellent example of how to properly utilize photo resources - these portraits have the "painted-from-life" feel:)

Thank you Chris! Looking as though they have been painted from life is very important to me.

Christy,

I couldn't agree more. My first impression was that each was done from life. Wonderful work. I suspect you paint a lot from life to be able to pull this off.

I also agree that each shows a definite, identifiable style and still stands alone as fresh and spontaneous.

Hi John, thank you. Actually I don't work a lot from life. I'm so used to working from photos that I've become timid to work from life for commission work. That's a shame; I must practice and get over that!

Christy, these portraits for me fit well into an american tradition, they have a certain Rockwell look not only in brushwork but also in that open and honest expression.
I don't know what JA is but I find these works definetely carry a moral quality to them which they express very well
Ilaria

Thank you very much Ilaria. When I was a child learning to draw my parents bought some old drawing books from the 50's. Illustrators like Rockwell certainly did have an influence on me!