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I would like to spend time doing portrait work. But I'd probably want to paint the laborer with the "sandblasted" looking face, or the old black man with tons of character welded into every wrinkle and crease of his face. Sometimes I wonder if it's a lack of courage that keeps me from doing said work and selling the prints. Oh well, deadlines and commitments...
The last human portrait I recall painting was of a guy's grandaughter. He was opening an old time photo studio, and had read that back in old west times, there were itenerant(sp?) painters going about that would trade work for room and board etc. Apparently it was a somewhat common practice to do a portrait of the bar owner's wife, right on the bar-room floor, in exchange for some liquid spirits. So this guy had me paint a full color portait of this little girl, in old timey dress, on some T&G pine boards. Then I distressed it to look walked on, turned out pretty neat.
But have you ever noticed that people doing portraits of children don't paint what they actually see? I mean, it's like they use this formula of the somewhat "ideal" looking child, then put on the subject's hair and eye color, etc. I've stood over the shoulder of one such portrait artist(in a crowded tourist area, being sure not to distract) and she was doing the "formula" thing, I knew, because she was obviously a better artist than to let these things go by unnoticed. The kid had much bushier eyebrows than what she was painting, and that's not the first time I've seen it done. I guess it's easier to sell it to the parents that way?
-------------------- James Donahue Donahue Sign Arts 1851 E. Union Valley Rd. Seymour TN. (865) 577-3365 brushman@nxs.net
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what's for lunch, Benjamin Franklin Posts: 2057 | From: 1033 W. Union Valley Rd. | Registered: Feb 2003
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Stephen, it is good to see that there is someone else interested in portrait painting. I use Jo Sonja's acrilics and have done over 70 Letterheads so far and still going. If I didn't loose their address, I'll send them a print. The reaction is very rewarding.
Many years ago someone said that the human face is the most difficult thing to paint, so naturally I had to try it. The fun is when the photo I work from isn't too good, I can improve by making it look better.
Steve Shortreed said one day he will show them on the BB.
-------------------- Bill Riedel Riedel Sign Co., Inc. 15 Warren Street Little Ferry, N.J. 07643 billsr@riedelsignco.com Posts: 2953 | From: Little Ferry, New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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I do portraits for commission, usually from photos. Usually they are pastels or charcoal but I have done some watercolor and acrylic ones too. Watercolor is the hardest I think because it is so unforgiving and if I make a mistake, I start over. I like pastels because they look rich and you can "fix" stuff. They usually take me a while to do though because I have my easle and art supplies set up at the shop and work on them when things aren't too crazy in here (which isn't often!) You can see a couple at our website under artwork. www.diazsignart.com I like to do watercolor landscapes when I have free time. Doing them on site is ideal, but I work from photos at the kitchen table most of the time. I sell some at the local framing shop and I use them as gifts (weddings, birthdays, etc.)
[ November 10, 2003, 09:52 AM: Message edited by: Jane Diaz ]
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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I do a lot of portraiture in oil on canvas.....but what is the point of your post????????
-------------------- Brian O'Prey Brian O'Prey, Artist and Designer 5 Old Movilla Road, Newtownards County Down Northern Ireland BT23 8HH Tel. 028 9181 3517 email-brianlionzion@hotmail.com Posts: 91 | From: Newtownards, County Down, Ireland | Registered: Aug 2003
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I have done portrait work as a part of murals and signs -- usually large scale. I used to do them as a part of my art education. I don't miss doing them. The human figure is difficult, it takes a lot of practice. Jane can whip those puppies out in watercolor and pastel, though.
-------------------- Bill Diaz Diaz Sign Art Pontiac IL www.diazsignart.com Posts: 2107 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Dec 2001
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Brian What is my point! Well Art is Art is Art!
And by the way it gives the viewer a Ah! after you paint the subject (Male/Female/Child) Lettering is as old as the scribes of Time.. but the Frescos out last them All.
Thanks Bill.. I like you work. It makes me wonder on the next piece I like to do..
Tried to post all day, of a piece. but the uplink will not except it...Maybe tonight.
-------------------- Stephen Deveau RavenGraphics Insinx Digital Displays
Letting Your Imagination Run Wild! Posts: 4327 | From: Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000
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I have done a few portraits in the past, but these days have fun with charicatures. I also spend time letting loose on "superhero" sketches (been doing it since I was 12). Been doing this one just for giggles...
If the world were a perfect place, I'd be drawing all the time. I've always loved a blank piece of paper and a pencil above all.
Rapid
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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Last week I had my sketchpad at the restaurant where I work part time and had some fun doodling charicatures of a couple of the employees. As some were coming out of the kitchen, the laughs were aplenty. I had a few doodles of Spiderman, Batman and the like kicking around in there and gave them to a few fellow employees. I originally started working there a few years ago after shutting down the biz, but now and then it's just fun to draw...for fun. These people have been very supportive of my gettiing my art skills back to the forefront of my life and have become great friends and that is worth so much more than a pencil and paper could ever convey.
Lord save me if I stop having fun doing this work... Rapid
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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I guess we all belong to the same club without knowing it. A restaurant we used to visit on a regular basis always was busy and it took a while for out food to arrive. The time was spent doodling on the place mat. Years later we went back and they told me they had posted all the placemats in the kitchen on display.
-------------------- Bill Riedel Riedel Sign Co., Inc. 15 Warren Street Little Ferry, N.J. 07643 billsr@riedelsignco.com Posts: 2953 | From: Little Ferry, New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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I'm working on the Riedell Project as we speak. While at this year's FKAB meet, we took the opportunity to scan Bill's Letterhead Portrait Portfolio. We came away with over 70 different renderings of various Letterheads.
Each photo is going through the process all our Letterville photos receive. Each photo is brought into PhotoShop, where they are cropped, contrast levels are adjusted, color is adjusted and, if possible, the image is sharpened. The final step is resizing and compressing the image just enough to reduce file size without affecting quality.
The end result of all this will hopefully be a slide show presentation in the very near future. Stay tuned!
[ November 18, 2003, 03:53 PM: Message edited by: Steve Shortreed ]
-------------------- Steve Shortreed 144 Hill St., E. Fergus, Ontario Canada N1M 1G9 519-787-2673
posted
i luv good portrait, and human body paintings. i cant do it!!!!! i can do houses, cars, murals, almost any object other then people or animals!!! i can draw skeltons, muscles, but doing a face eludes me.as does working in water colors!!! my favorites are BORIS VELLEJO, ROWEENA, FRAZETA, wythe and rockwell, for drawing people.
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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Wow, Joey, that is incredible! What beautiful artwork, talent! She is a delight!
That picture reminds me of the girl in a movie called " Knights in White Satin" where a photographer captured a pic of the homeless beautiful woman. I like to draw animals and trees with in graduated lead pencils. My 18 year old niece is very gifted and she recently revealed that among her other artwork also she likes to paint nudes which she finds the muscle tones to be a wonderful challenge and fulfillment. She is taking an art history/appreciation course at the college and is really pumped. I will show her the website if she hasn't seen it, thanks Joey!
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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Stephen, when I see a beautiful face I automatically want to paint the portrait. To try to keep their mind in the open, I say how much I admire their looks and there is just something special and different from everyone else. Next I ask for permission to take their picture. Works most of the time.
It would be exciting to paint from the subject, but I have never found anyone that could pose without moving and that makes it impossible to capture them correctly.
Picture the lucky very talented guy that gets a beautiful girl to pose nude. As you youngsters would say, what a trip!
-------------------- Bill Riedel Riedel Sign Co., Inc. 15 Warren Street Little Ferry, N.J. 07643 billsr@riedelsignco.com Posts: 2953 | From: Little Ferry, New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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NOW I CAN DO NUDES....come ta think of most women ive know...where nude.....
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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