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The latest posts from my blog are shown below, and information about me follows that section.

I hope you enjoy your visit!


My Latest Blog Posts

Vintage

Vintage 13×12 Oil Painting by Winifred Whitfield This painting was challenging and enjoyable. I couldn’t…

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Angel Curls

Angel Curls 9×12 Oil Painting by Winifred Whitfield She’s my neighbor and for the past…

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Cinnamon Curls

I took a break from painting portraits the past few weeks to paint still lifes….

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My Biography

Hi, my name is Winifred.

I am commissioned to provide the following services: Portraits, in oil and digitally painted, and find art paintings.

I have  closed my online STORE where I sold digital tutorials and online workshops. Essentially, I no longer teach digital art. I focus exclusively on oil painting, and I continue to create digitally enhanced portraits and other digital products for clients.

My passion is creating fine art and heirloom portraits – portraits intended to pass from generation to generation. These portraits possess a high level of emotional content and beauty. More than seeing an image, I want you to feel it. I want it to convey a story about you. Such are the images which remain with us. Such are the images we feel connected to.

Oil Paintings

With the guidance of friends a “home gallery” was created.  It’s pretty fun to live in a gallery. Eighty six paintings are currently on my walls and growing! Take a look – click here:

My days are filled with oil painting, primarily portraits and still life paintings. Click Here to access my Blog,  and scroll through to see examples of my still life and portrait paintings.  I have created many commissioned portraits and a variety of still lifes.

Examples of Oil Portraits by Winifred Whitfield

I

EDUCATION

  • Master’s Degree in Urban and Region Planning – University of Southern California.
  • Master’s Degree in Social Work – University of Southern California.

PHOTOGRAPHY CERTIFICATIONS – Wedding and Portrait Photographers International

  • Accolade of Photographic Mastery
  • Accolade of Outstanding Photographic Achievement
  • Accolade of Exceptional Photographic  Achievement
  • Accolade of Lifetime Photographic Excellence (the Highest level granted by WPPI)

Workshops and Speaking Engagements

  • Winifred has conducted workshops in Canada, New York, London, England, Las Vegas, Nevada, New Jersey, Illinois, Seattle

Awards

  • Perfect Print Award ~ Northeast Photography Convention
  • Kodak Gallery Award

Print Judging 

  • Print Competition Judging at international competition multiple years at WPPI and in and Great Britain

 

 

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Related Images:

Recent Posts

Decorating the Background

Oranges Grapes and Vines Background 11×14

This past week, rather than creating a completely new painting, I decided to experiment on an existing painting. Painting backgrounds is an ongoing challenge for many painters. This is certainly the case for me. A background should be an integral part of the painting, created within the context the development of the painting, not as an after thought or a final thought. I was not happy with my original background of this painting, even though it resembled the original reference photo, I thought it could be more interesting. I’ve been practicing swerving lines and small floral and foliage elements during the past year. As someone explained on YouTube, painting is a physical exercise, and it requires effort and practice to teach the hand how to make different brush strokes. Think of the gymnast who has practiced and can perform a certain technique very well – but has no facility in another technique and must work hard to get her body to perform it. So it is with brushstrokes. It is few painters who can paint any subject matter very well. You should see how awkwardly my hand moves when painting the petals of roses or a cluster of petals in a lilac or hydrangea. Portraits over all are hardest to paint, (the nose. eyes, lips) but floral elements, require the most complex brushstrokes. For me, painting fruit is easiest. For a while now, I’ve wanted to add decorative floral elements to the backgrounds of my paintings. Last week I added some floral decorative elements to the portrait I painted. It was subtle but it was there. This week, I added floral elements more substantially to this still life painting above. I made quite a few other changes as well. The original painting is below. You may well think the simpler version is preferable. Important to me was giving my hand practice adding graceful swerves and floral elements which you see in the painting above – and there will be more because I am still practicing.

Oranges and Grapes Still Life 11×14 Oil Painting by Winifred Whitfield

I think of the destruction and terror which must have been experienced by the hurricane victims – now trying to rebuild their lives. I also think of the terror of the Haitians who’ve been placed in harm, accused repeatedly of eating their neighbors cats and dogs. All very sad. Have a good weekend. Winifred

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