Bella

Bella

4" x 4"

Acrylics on Panel

Commissioned as a memorial portrait for a client's friend.

The hole at the top makes it possible to hang it as a Christmas Tree Ornament.

Welker

Welker

5" x 5"x 1 1/2"

Acrylics on canvas

A memorial portrait commissioned as a surprise gift for a client's friend.  

Ernie Banks

Ernie Banks

4" x 4"

Acrylics on panel

This was commissioned as a surprise birthday present.  It has a hole drilled in the top so that it can be used as a Christmas tree ornament.  This portrait was based on a photo created by John Willson. I added the ivy covered wall to further signify this baseball fan's favorite team.

Shady Lane

Shady Lane
11" x 14"
Acrylics on paper

This is a painting I used as a demo for an art lesson.  It is a scene based on a painting by Jim Harrison.

A Boy and his Chainsaw

A Boy and His Chainsaw

Final Version

12" x 12"

Acrylics on canvas

NFS

Parrot Painting (2019)

This painting was completed in 2019 but I don't have a photo of the Final Version.

In Progress  (2019)

Parrot

16" x 20"

Acrylics on canvas

Given to Nancy Lennon

Parrot ...beginning

        Graphing for Tonal Painting

This is a photo that I found online for my student to paint.  I can't give the proper credit because I didn't record the name of the photographer.

Because it's such a complex scene with so many details I decided to use graphing to start the painting as a tonal painting.  Here are the steps I used beginning with a black and white photo of the scene.

I put a wash of raw sienna on the canvas.

I put masking tape around the edges to remind me not to paint all the way to the edge.

 I measured and painted a graph the size of the painting that was roughly in thirds.

Next, I placed a piece of transparent plastic (old sheets for use with an overhead projector) on top of the black and white copy of the photograph.  I measured and drew a graph roughly in thirds onto the transparent plastic with a Magic Marker.

Then, with the transparent plastic graph on top of the B & W copy, I selected a segment with which to begin. I chose the uppermost left-hand segment.

Upper left-hand segment on B & W copy.

Upper left-hand segment on canvas.

Using black, white, and greys, I painted the tones of the upper left-hand segment that I wanted to include in my painting. 

Nearly completed tonal painting.

Tonal Painting