You may have noticed I have no affinity with photorealism.
It is not about whether it just seems real, the point is that it is true and authentic.
Thoughts on portrait painting
Painting hands in oil paint
About painting hands in oil paint.
Let me start with a quote of the famous Art teacher Robert Henri form his book The Art Spirit:
“Better paint the gesture of the hand than the hand”.
I love to paint hands and this fantastic phrase animates me once again to show the expression of the hand.
Painting hands in oil paint. Many people think that a painted portrait is just only about the face. Of course it is more than that. Hands can belong just as well to the whole image. Hereto the hands of a commission that I have on my easel now. When the portrait is delivered, and I have the permission of the client, I’ll show you the whole painting. Continue reading “Painting hands in oil paint”
Portrait painting and waste
Oil paint waste: What is the similarity between oil paint and a pencil? In both you use only 40%, the rest is thrown away.
When sharpening your pencil a part of the pencil always disappears. I estimate that more than half is left in the sharpener. What a pity! Continue reading “Portrait painting and waste”
Cool-warm contrast in portrait painting
Cool warm contrast portrait painting.
In portrait painting you have to deal with a number of contrasts. One is the cool-warm contrast. And I know from experience that people often struggle with this topic. The light-dark contrast is no problem to many students.
A basic principle is the often applicable rule:
- light parts are cool,
- shadows are warm,
- deep shadows are hot. Continue reading “Cool-warm contrast in portrait painting”
Nothing to do with portrait painting.
Today I filmed, with my iPhone, a beautiful butterfly in our garden. Papilio machaon. The name in English Old world swallowtail.
It made my day!
(the guitar music by my friend Rob Kietselaer who plays his own composition)
https://youtu.be/uTftTCtPos0
Portrait painting, an interview some time ago
This time a sad message
The portrait below is of Kees Thijssen. Last week he died. He was my agent for more than 25 years when I was working as an illustrator.
I was about 25 years old when I went to Amsterdam with my portfolio to find an agent. There were three major illustration agencies at the time in Holland: Art Connection, Top Drawers and Art Box. For some reason I could only visit Art Box. There I met Kees. He looked intently through my portfolio. He was excited: the next day I received a first commission! And the week after two, months later a dozen and, over the years, hundreds and hundreds. We became close friends.
Portrait painting from live model
Portrait painting in oil: A quick approach in colour from a live model.
No portrait painting this time
We are out for a couple of days to see our grand daughter in Madrid. I am preparing a long blog for next Monday about portrait painting from live model. So come back next Monday.
Skin colours in portrait painting
Every so often I get the question of what colours skin tone is composed. I can not possibly answer that question because every complexion has its own composition.
In the two in-depth video tutorials I show exactly which colour and in what quantity in the different parts of the face, I used to paint the portrait.