Portraits and landscapes show

portraits and landscapes Ben lustenhouwer framing my paintings

Once back, safe and sound from my portrait painting workshops in France, I started the preparations for my show “portraits and landscapes” here in the village, in August. The titel will be: “Portraits of Chelva”. Landscapes and Plain-air paintings of the Chelva surroundings. Also a number of portraits of local people, from our weekly live-model sessions in my studio. I brought some 40 paintings to the frame maker. Continue reading “Portraits and landscapes show”

Me as a portrait painter?

Me as a portrait painter?

Of course, like every child, I was asked sometimes “what do you want to be when you grow up”? Did I ask myself the question: Me as a portrait painter?

But what is a portrait painter? the English Dictionary says: an artist who paints portraits


Drawing as a little child?

Sometimes I visit websites from other portrait artists and read the information they give about themselves. Often like: “I was already drawing as a little child, or I was born with brushes in my hand”. That annoys me and I do not know exactly why. Is it that difficult to write something more original?

Continue reading “Me as a portrait painter?”

Portrait painting from observation

Despite of the fact that I often do portrait painting from photography, I really must emphasize again, that portrait painting from observation is important. Study as much as you can from a life model sitting in front of you.

Training your drawing skills is fundamental. Accompanying a study I made last Tuesday night. I used Terra Rosa (Winsor & Newton) mixed with a little bit of Burnt Umber (Rembrandt Talens.)

Continue reading “Portrait painting from observation”

Oil painting technique.

oil painting technique
Oil painting technique. Acueducto romano . Chelva, Spain.
Acueducto romano. Chelva, Spain.

This post is about brushes for oil painting technique. As you may have noticed, recently I was able to dedicate more attention to landscape painting. It took a long time; I was too busy with my portrait commissions. The surroundings of the town of Chelva, where we live, are beautiful and very picturesque. There are countless places asking to be painted. And that is what I do.  Continue reading “Oil painting technique.”

Sweet lies in portrait painting.

sweet lies in portrait painting

I must confess I sometimes used sweet lies in portrait painting. Most people have no experience of posing for a portrait. In a commissioned portrait, it is important that the model shows off his best side. He or she should give me something that I can give back in the painting. Usually I am able to get a satisfactory photograph of the person. (As you know, for commissioned portraits I use photographic sources.) Continue reading “Sweet lies in portrait painting.”

Value contrast in portrait painting

value contrast in portrait painting

Flipped value contrast in portrait painting

An entire book can be written about value contrast in portrait painting. I have also read a lot about it myself. But an image explains more than so many words. That is what at least I always think.

So here are my simple examples. A few times I apply this proven method of flipped value contrast in portrait painting. I do this to obtain a dynamic value contrast in a painting. It is based on a very simple rotation principle. Continue reading “Value contrast in portrait painting”