Colorful Portrait 3 – 11×14 Oil Painting by Winifred Whitfield
I’ve attempted a similar style of painting a couple timed in the past. They were smaller – 5×7 and were good – however, I felt I’d only been lucky and felt no confidence in my ability to create such paintings. This painting represents a step forward for me. I certainly feel encouraged to try more. Next time, I hope to use fewer strokes and to make every stroke count.
I said, I’d see you on the other side of the election. Well, we have a new President. As you know, he is not the one I wanted. Courts have determined him to be a RAPIST and a convicted criminal. He’s been twice impeached and documented as a prolific liar and fraudster. Regrettably, e’s completely lacking in character. But, it is what it is. I won’t mention him again – he’s not worth it. I’m here to share my paintings.
Lady in Fancy Dress 12×16 Oil Painting by Winifred Whitfield
I actually enjoyed creating this painting and it’s emotional content. There was no appreciable suffering during the painting process this time – as is certainly the case with many of my paintings. I even was able to create some energetic brushstrokes in her hair, background and attire. No doubt. it’s a function of experience and growing confidence in brush and paint handling. I am determined to be able to include some level of abstraction into realism. I think the combination is pretty wonderful.
Well, we have a big week ahead. See you on the other side. Have a great weekend. Winifred
Angel Curls 9×12 Oil Painting by Winifred Whitfield
She’s my neighbor and for the past two years, since she was 4 years old, we’ve explored crayon, watercolor, colored pencils, pastels, paper cut outs, and now her latest fascination – clay. Initially, I thought I would “teach” her but I quickly found out I had no idea how to do that. Instead we just play – mostly I watch her. She’s pretty happy if I just give her 100% percent of my attention during our half hour or max hour together once or. twice per week. I’ve seen so much progress. She is totally focused on the activity of the day and happy to take the day’s activity home with her.
She has learned that I don’t like to do smiling photos and she has no problem with this. Normally her hair is in braids or one or two pony tails, hence and on the day she arrived with her hair down in curls I decided to photograph her. I could complain about some of the colors as they shifted in the photograph of the painting – but what’s the point.
Today, I began cutting back my strawberry plants and adding the foliage to my compost pile. I say I’m tired of gardening but yesterday I found myself buying large bags of container soil to transplant my many kale plants in another week or so. Cabbage worms decimated my many kale plants a couple years ago. It was so depressing I haven’t tried since. This fall I will. Have a wonderful remainder of your weekend. Winifred
Study – Sargent “Portrait of a Capri Girl” 1878 – 9×12 Oil Painting
It’s difficult to even find this image on the internet because it’s such an early work painted by Sargent and no doubt it’s not one of his most popular paintings. However, I found it at some point in the past and saved it to a collection of his portraits I keep on my computer as possible references. She was one of his very first models. I have created another study of the other from his set of two paintings of the Capri Girl. It is nearly 16×20 and I enjoy it on my wall. At a point I just quit working on this one and decided that “near enough” was good enough”. After all, it was intended as a study, not a copy, and I felt I’d derived sufficient benefit from the process. I wasn’t sure what that was in this instance, but it’s always useful to attempt Sargent’s brushstrokes. I think, I’ll next attempt a still life. I have some new references. Have a wonderful weekend. Winifred
Study of Rembrandt Self Portrait 9×12 Oil Painting
Rembrandt (1609 – 1669) Dutch Painter and one of the most influential painters who ever lived. If you ask most painters and others knowledgeable about painters, he is likely to be their favorite. Formally, as a photographer, we’d referred to Rembrandt lighting, which describes a specific light pattern on the face. You can see it above – light coming from the side but creating a pattern of light on the opposite cheek and a shadow extending on the shadow side of the face down to the upper lip. It’s a dramatic light pattern which works well for a seriously posed face. I enjoyed creating this study. It was difficult of course and all portraits are but I derived benefit and will take some of his techniques into a future painting I have planned. Also, very significant to his paintings is the very strong contrast with shadows fading softly into a dark background – edges of the hair are lost. Painting Master Copies or Master Studies have always served as a significant learning tool and I will paint more of these studies in the future.
Below is the “red” version of the initial painting. As you know, I pretty much “finish” a painting and shortly thereafter decide I am not happy with it. I decide I need to do more or need to make changes, often MAJOR changes! Most of the time I don’t show you the “after”. Though in this case, I even said I wouldn’t continue to work on this painting. That’s how much I didn’t like it – but it kept talking to me and I took it back to the easel.
Two Bricks – Two Apples 9×12 Oil Painting by Winifred Whitfield
When I decided the painting below wasn’t working, I no longer allowed myself to look at the reference photo. I wouldn’t allow it to give guidance any longer. I alone would have to figure out out what I wanted the new changes to be. That’s taking a bold step as the changes to the “red” painting are pretty dramatic. How it turned out is less important than that I was willing to put aside the photo reference. Fortunately I do prefer the latter version. I like the fact that the elements all flow into each other, it’s more painterly and I love the many reds. One thing for sure is the more I put reference images aside, the better off I will be, allowing a greater channel for creativity. Have a wonderful weekend. I have just begun a new portrait.
2 Apples 2 Bricks and Grapes Oil Painting by Winifred Whitfield
Kazakhstan Girl with Necklace, Version 3, 12×16 Oil Painting by Winifred Whitfield
This painting has had quite a journey. I think I am finally satisfied with the painting above. It’s rather refined, something I’m comfortable with.This time I added a lace shawl and a more refined necklace patterned after one of my mom’s broaches. Painting the lace and the jewels was a new experience. It’s a matter of making just the right brush marks and using the colors reflected by the light. I found it interesting and rather effective.
Do you recall the progression of the previous versions? See both below. First (the gold) a loosely painted version (photo a bit distorted) which I over painted because of my insecurity paint about loose paintings. I regret that. Below that, I made changes attempting a tighter painting,which I didn’t care for. This led to today’s third version.
I am currently working on a Rembrandt copy. It’s very interesting to do do. It’s not really a copy but but an exercise using Rembrandt’s painting as the reference.
Kazakhstan Girl Oil Painting 12×16 by Winifred Whitfield
Kazakhstan Girl – Version Two 12×16 Oil Painting by Winifred Whitfield
