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.”

Portrait painting and inspiration.

portrait painting inspiration

Sometimes I wonder why I want to paint a good portrait. Where does that fervour come from? What about my  portrait painting and inspiration. I’ve never been able to answer that question. And it should stay like that, I guess. That everlasting urge, that gruelling passion; I have learned to live with it. It was not always an easy road. More than once, I was jealous of people without any ambition. Continue reading “Portrait painting and inspiration.”

Peculiar portrait commissions.

Peculiar portrait commissions.

After twenty-five years of commissioned portraits there are many anecdotes I can tell. I have had some peculiar portrait commissions.

I have met a lot of people. Occasionally there was something special about a job, like the two times I got an enquiry for a female nude painting. In the first one, the client was the model´s husband; the client making the other request was the model herself. She wanted to give the portrait as a present to her husband on the day of the wedding.  Continue reading “Peculiar portrait commissions.”