Girl in Crimson Dress – 11×14 Linen on Panel
Portrait of Girl in Crimson Dress – Oil Painting by Winifred
A loosely painted textural portrait of a teenage girl. I enjoy experimenting with loose imprecise brushstrokes – though it’s not just random as it might appear.
The Face – 8×10 Oil on Gessoed Panel
The Face – Oil Painting Portrait by Winifred
I think this painting falls somewhere between realism and abstraction. It’s unusual for me to paint in a style of such smooth gradients. It’s actually very challenging because there is a separate color mixed for each value and value and chroma of the hue used in her face. It was gratifying to complete this.
I
The Violinist – 12×16 Oil on Gesso Panel
12×16 Portrait Oil Painting by Winifred
She “grooved” and swayed to her unique style of music. Dramatically, she lowered her head then tossed her thick black hair backwards. She played the violin using the bow but sometimes she just strummed it.
Three Vases Still Life – Oil on Linen Panel 12×12
Three Vases Oil Painting by Winifred
I’m always amazed at how much I enjoy monotone paintings and the depth which can be created in the process. This combined with dramatic light, loose strokes and thick paint seeks to bring this painting alive. I hope you enjoy. Winifred
Three Pears on Green Marble Table – 11×14 Oil Painting on Linen Panel
Still life of pears on ornate table by Winifred.
I love textures paintings – as you know but they are far more difficult capture photographically than are relatively smooth paintings.
… and below, one more painting to share, a simple vase on a linen scarf.
Still life oil painting of vase on scarf by Winifred
Man with Dread Locks – 11×14 Oil on Gessoed Board
Oil Painting Portrait of Man with Dread Locks by Winifred Whitfield
I don’t often paint men’s portraits but I was inspired. I photographed him years ago in New York. He is a photographer and was working outside on a street corner with a client. He was a bit disoriented when I stopped him and ask if I could take a couple of quick shots of him! What was I thinking!! I certainly don’t normally interrupt a photographer at work to request a photo. He wanted to say “no” but I ask him very nicely. In the other image, he has a big smile and it is a great smile. I almost painted the other one, and for sure I prefer not to paint smiling portraits. It was fun to paint him and especially his hair. In painting this portrait, I used my fingers ( first time for that), a palette knife and a brush for fine details.
8×8 Oil on Gessoed Board – Apple Impasto Painting
I’m enjoying painting with thick paint – even as simple as an apple. I only purchased one of these apples. It was a variety I’d never seen before. It passed all my requirements for taste and texture – it was so crisp and sweet. This is my way of sharing it’s deliciousness!
Impasto Oil Painting Still Life by Winifred
Vase and Fruit Still Life – Oil on Linen – 11×14
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Soon we’ll get to start all over again and hopefully make 2018 meaningful to ourselves and those we love.
I am constantly challenged by painting. I didn’t think I would get another painting completed this year but here it is 5 a.m. New Years Eve and I have two new paintings completed!! I decided to paint the vase from the still life first – as a stand alone – just incase I couldn’t get the more complex still life finished in time.
Below is the full still life painting as set up in my studio. You can see in it the vase I painted above. I can now eat the Mandarine oranges.
11×14 Still life Oil Painting – Vase and Fruit by Winifred
I’ve been studying some of the techniques and painting products of the old masters and have incorporated some of these products into my work. Not only is the painting surface textured but my paint is made and mixed with products now, which give me an entirely different brush stroke look. I love it!! It’s so interesting. I made 3 new painting oils this past week as well. It is complex to do but I remain fascinated.
Sincerely, in 2018, I am wish you the healthiest, happiest and most prosperous new year ever. Thank you for sharing this very special past 6 months as I began to paint with oils. Winifred
Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah to all!!
I realize this post should lead with a pretty holiday themed painting – but alas! NO!! I think such paintings are pretty, but best left to others to paint. I’ve always been that way. I actually feel a little badly about it. However, I just wait out those guilty feelings and soon the holiday is over and all is well again.
In addition to the linen covered panels, I told you, Ive been making, I’ve now also made my own hand made oil paints. It’s pretty exciting to grind oil and pigment powder to make paint.
Still Life by Winifred Whitfield with First Handmade Oil Paints
This gives me full control over what’s in my paint and it’s consistency. To test my new paints, I did this quick little painting with paints I made. “Two Vases and a Grape”. It is a little odd looking, isn’t it.The scale of things seem a bit off – but it’s really what I set up. I like the fact that you can’t really tell what’s going on. What is the vase on, and what’s beneath that and why is the other partial vase sitting off to to right – and one grape! If any of these questions arose when this came into view. – I was successful. I also find the shapes and values interesting.
But that’s not all I’ve been doing! On my stove – even as we speak – there is a large quantity of oil boiling, which I’m refining to use with my oils when painting and to use when making handmade paints. I did not know I was this kind of person. I’ve spent 4 hours today so far, almost literally watching a liter of oil boil in 8 liters of water, sand and salt. After this cleaning process is complete – which it is not yet, I will oxygenate the oil further for several days with a little aquarium pump. The idea is to produce a thicker, cleaner, less yellowing, faster drying linseed oil for my oil painting – in the style of the “old masters”. Such oil can not be found commercially today in art stores, though some version may soon be introduced.
Even though there is not a card, I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy Chanukah!
9×12 Oil on Gessoed Board
It’s been a few months since I painted this portrait. It’s taken a while to obtain necessary permissions. I have that now and with pride, I show you this lovely 14 year old young lady.
Portrait Oil Painting by Winifred