Sunday, June 27, 2010

A Portrait of Amy

I think I am getting back to normal now with a new computer, no 'flu and school holidays.

The school holidays are nearly two months this year because of the World Cup (though why the two are connected, I don't know!), so I'm not teaching and there are no art groups.

I have, however, taken advantage of all the workshops that our society organises during the Winter months, and last Tuesday did an oil portrait workshop with one of our top portrait artists, Lesley Charnock.  For the first time I worked with just 3 colours and white - it was a revelation and something I realise I should have done 3 years ago when I first started painting.

Amy was a superb model and I think I caught her likeness quite nicely.  So here she is - in ultramarine, cad red, cad yellow and a bit of titanium white!

27 comments:

Autumn Leaves said...

Absolutely lovely, Liz! I love that softly lit background and I must say she has some gorgeous hair!!

Dean H. said...

Really, really, nice, Elizabeth! Great three color portrait. I especially like the softness of her features.

jyothisethu said...

liz,
you have captured amy in simple strokes and the picture became very lovely...
i liked the use of light and shade in your picture...
congrats...

Carol Blackburn said...

Great job, Liz. Simply beautiful.

SharonWrightArtist said...

Lovely portrait, she has an elegance about her...and I love the hat...of course!

Anthony Duce said...

I'm so glad you are enjoying the workshops and painting from live models. Your painting of Amy is great. I use the limited palette too for most of what I do. It makes the decisions so much easier allowing you to just enjoy the process of painting more.

Suzanne McDermott said...

Reducing to 3 colors is a fabulous exercise! Good job. Just to let you know, I posted a link to your beautiful heron at the Spirit of the Gulf Challenge page and facebook page just after I saw it. Thought I left a comment on your post there but don't spot it so it must have gone the way of all things. Beautiful work and many thanks for participating!

Elizabeth Anderson said...

Great painting. Encourages me to try 3 colour portrait. Thanks for sharing.

Manon said...

She's stunning Liz! I love the softness of the painting. It has such a nice feel!!

Anonymous said...

It's so much easier to use a limited palette - I do it all the time. Nice portrait. They are really difficult to do. I tried painting my grandchildren but while the likeness was good the end results were very stiff. Nice work Liz.
Jean

Charlene Brown said...

A strikingly Successful application of limited palette technique -- Lesley Charnock is a very good teacher and/or you were born to it! I especially like the confident use of what looks like straight-up cadmium red.

padmaja said...

Cadmium red and ultramarine blue does wonders all the time, I like the way you have handled her deep set eyes and use use of white very near the face that has made it glow.

Art with Liz said...

Dear Sherry thank you. She was an amazing model - didn't move at all and features like her hair were a bonus!


Thank you so much Dean. I really appreciate that comment coming from you.

Art with Liz said...

Hi Sethu and thank you so much for your kind comment! It was fun getting both the darks and the lights from those three colours.


Thank you Carol - that's such a nice thing to say!

Art with Liz said...

Dear Sharon of the portrait and hat fame! Thank you so much. I wasn't enamoured with her hat at first and it took a final go at it at the end to get it somewhat right!


Hi Tony, thank you! I am still getting used to live models to paint - we are also doing weekly drawing sessions and I find charcoal so much easier. Will be posting those sometime.

Art with Liz said...

Thank you Suzanne for both the great comment about Amy and for the acknowledgement on your Spirit of the Gulf challenge. I hope you get lots and lots of entries to create awareness. I also believe that hurricane season is coming which doesn't bode well for that beautiful area.


Hi Elizabeth! Thank you and I would so encourage you to try the 3 colour route - it was an eye opener for me!

Art with Liz said...

Dear Manon, thank you! A great compliment from you when I look at your special ladies!


Hi Jean, as I said, I should have started learning this way 3 years ago! I think too many teachers just assume you know the simple basics of colour mixing. Thank you for the encouraging words.

Art with Liz said...

Gosh Charlene, Lesley is an amazing teacher but very difficult to get into her classes she's so popular! Amy was wearing this deep red scarf which just invited straight cad red!


Hello Padmaja and thank you. I had to keep lightening that area until I was satisfied it was light enough otherwise her face would have disappeared into the background!

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

It' s really a good portait... intense expression

Marie Theron said...

Your model must be very pleased with her image, Liz!

marty said...

très joli portrait - une belle réussite avec seulement les trois
couleurs !
bisous et excellente semaine Liz

rachelsstudio.com said...

I love the softness and looseness you've achieved - very nice!

Melanie Statnick said...

Just beautiful!. It does have a softness to it. Will look lovely framed

Marian Fortunati said...

Well done, Liz..
I find portraits very challenging... but you've done it!!

martinealison said...

Très beau travail Liz que ce portrait, plein de douceur...

Anonymous said...
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Vern Schwarz said...

There's a lot to be said about using a limited palette, and this turned out great Liz.