Have you ever painted a fellow Artist?

[Enzie Shahmiri]

Now to some contemporary artists. I remembered during one of the Portrait Society's of America conferences famous artists painted each other. After some searching on the net, I found the information along with some great photos, here: http://www.sonia.co.za/events.htm

For demonstration purposes, Raymond Kinstler painted Daniel Greene during the first session and in the second session Daniel Greene painted Burton Silverman. Two famous artist on stage, both confident in their styles, sharing equally in the roles of model and artist. Competition, title of "who's the better one", the most accomplished, etc., non of this mattered. For an evening both were able to share their ideology for a common goal of furthering portraiture through a demonstration.

Reasons why artists paint other artists are varied and the relationship between the self and the other is an interesting subject to further explore. As each participant responds to the other's viewpoints, both are capable to share and grow artistically. But more importantly, this collective collaboration, is often absent in today's art circles and made me search for an answer.

In today's artistic environment , the artist of today is engaged in a tremendous individualistic struggle. A struggle to discover and to assert and to express himself. To gain access to such collaboration, social contact among artists is needed. Many of the artists of the past have either worked together or have met regularly. They may have shared or acknowledged common aesthetics commitments and beliefs and have striven to exhibit together. They might have shared similar style and/or subject matter, similarities not necessarily recognized by the artists themselves. Third, ideological congruences may be the grounds of a perceived unity, even if those congruences are largely a matter of what the artists agreed on opposing (an academy for instance, or a prevailing set of beliefs and theories).

Excerpt from Re-framing Abstract Expressionism
Subjectivity and Painting in the 1940s by Michael Leja

Something to think about and to pursue....

[Mike McCarty]

Enzie,

I've not done a fellow artist. I think that would have it's own particular set of challenges knowing that the subject was capable of critique.

Here are a few artists painted by Everett Raymond Kinstler:

Wm. Draper 2002
Peter Cox 54 x 60 1983
Chin Chi double
Paul Resika

And these are just the painters, he has done many famous actors which you can see on his web site:

http://www.everettraymondkinstler.com/index.html

[Enzie Shahmiri]

These are nice Mike.

I think that would have it's own particular set of challenges knowing that the subject was capable of critique.

You are absolutely right, that's probably why most artist stick to painting friends and relatives over fellow artists, unless of course they have years of experience behind them. It is interesting to see though, that the generations before us, did not shy away from this intimidating task for some of the various reasons I have listed before.

Well, I decided to take the plunge and have asked a fellow artist friend, who has received her art education at Julliard and is a portrait artist herself, to pose for me. Due to her schooling, I am sure I will hear critique, but that is welcomed and it will create a collaborative work environment. I have always wanted to paint her, because she has such a chiseled, classical look about her and I just love her speckled green eyes. It will be interesting to see what setting she wants me to portray her in, as the artist or the socialite. Since she loves to chat non stop, concentrating on capturing her while chatting will be the biggest challenge and learning curve to overcome.

[Jeanine Jackson]

Believing this topic most valuable a few years back, CSOPA invited member-artists to pose for eachother for two hours over several weeks. A surprising benefit we gained was a great appreciation for professional models!

All three shown here are oil on 20" x 16" canvas.

First is my study of CSOPA Co-Chair, Cindy Wagner. I was inspired by the demo that Nelson Shanks did of Marissa Tomei at the ASOPA event at the Met, and donned a crown of flowers in her hair. Cindy is a wonderful artist, friend, and leader. Look for her in DC this May!

The second is Grace DeVito whose name, I promise, will become very familiar to you all one day.

Last, but not least, is my quick painting of another wonderful painter and frequent award winner, Karen Martin.

[Dianne Gardner]

These are great examples, thanks for the thread!

I've just finished painting a fellow artist. She is an arcrylic artist working out of Tacoma and does bright bold paintings. Here is the portrait I did of her. I am actually painting another artist today at open studio. I've posed also...it kind of puts a bandaid on the poor starving artist syndrome when we can pose for each other. (We pay!)

[Dianne Gardner]

Thank you Sharon!

[Enzie Shahmiri]

Diane this is a lovely painting and a great idea! I still have not had a chance to paint a fellow artist, but it is on my long list of thing to do.