Day 16 of 21-in-31: The Letter

 

Day 16 of 21-in-31: "The Letter" (pastel, 16x20 inches)
This is a portrait of my niece (doubled) that was a very long time in the making! Read more about it and watch a short video of the progress here!

Golden

 

"Golden"  (pastel, 12x9 inches) $1350

Painted in 2017, this is the fourth or fifth portrait I've done using the toned underpainting technique with the gold and terra cotta primers, and it's sill the most successful with my ultimate goal of  letting much of the underpainting "speak" along with the pastel. I think my favorite part is the reflected light under her chin. That's all underpainting and no pastel!

This was one of the merchants at the Texas Renaissance Festival during the daily parade. I love the parade for catching all kinds of excellent pics!

"Golden" is just now beyond her competition age (most competitions require works less than 4 years old) so it's time to bring her out to the art festivals! She'll be with me this weekend at the Naples Downtown Art Show. If you're in the area, find me in booth 222 on 5th ave between 4th and 5th streets.

See progress pics and read more about my process here!

Young Diana

"Young Diana" (pastel, 10x8 inches) $1200

One of my most recent themed portraits, Young Diana is currently in the Connecticut Pastel Society Renaissance in Pastel 26th Annual National Juried Exhibition, at the Slater Memorial Museum in Norwich, CT. The show will run from October 11 – December 6, 2019.

Many thanks to Jurors of Selection Judith Leeds, Jeanne Tangney and Kurt Weiser for selecting my painting to be included!

Artists Reception: Sunday, October 27, 2:00 – 4:00 PM

Golden - New Award!

"Golden" (pastel, 12x9 inches) $1350

I'm very happy to be able to brag that "Golden" has won the Terry Ludwig Pastels Award at the Pastel Society of Colorado's 15th Annual Mile High National Pastel Exhibition. This makes her fourth award from five shows in 20 months. She's having a good run!

The Mile High Exhibition continues to June 29, 2019, at the Curtis Center for the Arts, 2349 E Orchard Rd, Greenwood Village, CO. Big thanks to Barbara Jaenicke for judging the show, and to Terry Ludwig for his generous donation!

An eloquent quote from Barbara:  
    "It's apparent from the title that the artist effectively stayed on track with a clear visual statement about her subject; a statement that could easily be overdone without the adept skill and experience evident in this painting. ...This artist very successfully balanced the color temperature, intensity and edge treatment so that the concept was subtle but still clear, making this piece a truly 'golden' winner."

Read more about Golden and her list of recognition here!

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Persephone

"Persephone" (pastel, 8x6 inches)

"Persephone", my newest addition to my Renaissance Portrait Series, has been accepted into the Austin Pastel Society's Juried exhibit. (She will also be going to IAPS  - the International Pastel Master's Circle Exhibit at the Convention in June!) That was my plan, one painting for two shows...

Actually, my original plan was a much larger painting with three figures but I ran out of time to complete, so Persephone was my Plan B.

You can see her and the other amazing paintings of the members of the Austin Pastel Society at the Chase Bank Building Corridor of Art, 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, TX, now through April 28, 2019.

Or peek at the show here, online!

Join us at the reception: Thursday, March 21 from 2 – 4 p.m.

Click here for directions and more show info.

Just for you! Some progress shots of Persephone:

Thanks for watching! Please share!

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Lauren

"Lauren" (pastel on YiCai medium gray Premium pastel paper, 12x9 inches) sold

This is the pastel portrait commission that's been taking up most of my January. I accepted the commission last summer, got started on it last fall, and had set it aside during my busy Christmas Season of many lower-priced pencil portraits. After all, the client had spoken those dangerous words: "No rush!"

But since I've got three excellent art festivals this spring, and with the Rodeo in February, have only about 4 weeks of uninterrupted studio time to create new inventory by the middle of March, I had to check this job off my list first!

The client (Lauren's mother) provided the photo. I really loved the challenge of the soft ambient light on Lauren's face combined with the direct sunlight shining from behind.

I had these two photos to work from, the second was for more accurate light and tone. So my first step was adjusting the primary reference photo:

 Then I set to work!

 The paper is the new (to the US) YiCai Premium sanded pastel paper from China, in medium gray.
Luscious!

 Early on in my progress I was inspired by a portrait by Anatoly Dverin, which was one of Gail Sibley's pastel picks for December. Sweet! I was struck by the similarity of pose and mood!

"Maria" by Anatoly Dverin

  I try to get in all the base values and colors quickly. This leads me into what I call the "messy" phase, which I usually have to push on through in one day or I get easily discouraged. If I pause when it's messy, it takes a herd of elephants to get me back to it!

 Once I have everything looking like it's about in the right place and the tones are coming along well, then it becomes a continuous tweaking of the smaller details, more subtle adjusting and layering of values and colors...

 ...The work slows down and becomes more careful. From this photo above to the last below, I actually had as much or more time invested as I did up to that point.

 The final tweaks include smoothing the skin tones with pastel pencils and some Girault pastels, and minute adjustments to the features and fingers to increase accuracy of the likeness. These last steps are ones I don't always take with my own competition figurative paintings because with those I don't feel compelled to attain that degree of likeness (except in some that I've done of my daughter, lol!) But curiously, these are the moments that I'm most able to get "in the zone" with a commission, and the very pressures of attaining that perfect likeness are forgotten in the act of refining the details to more closely match the photo. I make sure I step back frequently during this phase, so I can determine when it's "done"!
(When is that, you might ask? Basically, it's done when I can compare it with the photo, looking back and forth, back and forth, and nothing strikes me as being "off", whether that's a shape, an angle, a value or tone somewhere. The face is the main focus, and as the distance from the face increases, I allow more leniency and looseness in the details.)

Visit my website to see more portraits and commission pricing info!

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Pencil Portrait Commissions (and new site in the works!)

Grandparents (conte pencil and pastel pencil, 12x15 inches) sold

The Holidays are done, and the New Year under way with a vengeance! Where did the past two weeks go? Well, I for one have been catching up with my post-Christmas portrait orders, and playing with our new kitten.

Here are a couple more of this Season's portraits. I also have been working on an updated Drawings site for my pencil portraits, which will still be at RitaKirkmanDrawings.com, but will be new and improved! Check there in a couple days, or just wait and I'll share it when it's ready!

baby boy (conte pencil and pastel pencil, 10x8 inches)  sold

And... our new kitty! (Pete, aka Mewler, or Pete Mewler, Pretty Pete, Dude, Silly Cat, Pretty Kitty, Good Kitty, and sometimes Bad Kitty.)

(photo)

Portrait discount ending soon!

Four Generations - a Portrait Commission (conte and pastel pencil, 15x12 inches)  sold

Last chance is fast approaching for 50% off my pencil portraits! Sale ends Christmas Eve at 6pm. Yes, it is officially too late to have your order shipped to you in time for Christmas, but you can have your order done in January, and as long as we can receive and approve your photo(s) and deposit by December 24, you can still get the discount!

A Pet Portrait, conte and white pastel, 10x8 inches, sold

See more samples, regular prices, and ordering info on my Drawing site at RitaKirkmanDrawings.com

oil portrait practice - day 10

 The portrait group at the New Braunfels Art League moved to the second Tuesday of the month, so my painting for today is another attempt to push some oil paint around a canvas board with brushes.
I stuck with burnt umber this time.

The model took a break every twenty minutes, so these shots are at each break. I left after an hour of painting. I feel like I should have quit after the first 20 minutes! Ah well, one doesn't improve without [lots and lots of] practice.

Merilda Braiding (For the Wimberley Flood Victims)

"Merilda Braiding"  (pastel, 10x8 inches)  Donated

Another old portrait that I've donated to the Wimberley Valley Art League 100@100 Benefit this Saturday, June 27. The event is at the Wimberley Texas Community Center from 2-6pm. Close to 250 works of art will be had for donations of $100 +/- ! There will be a silent auction for works of a higher value; this one might be included! All proceeds will go to the Barnabas Connection for the victims of the recent flooding in Wimberley.

This one doesn't quite fit into my Renaissance Portrait series because there's no sunlight on her. She was sitting in the shade, so the light is more subtle. And I just now realized that I had done some touch-ups on this piece before another show last year, and forgot to get a new photo of the changes! It was mostly to soften the harsh edges of the braids and other areas, but I guess you'll have to come to the show on Saturday to see how much Merilda has improved!

See many of the donated works so far on the Wimberley Valley Art League Facebook Page, and all together on this Pinterest Board. Check back! More works added daily through this Friday!

Before The Dance (for Wimberley Flood Victims)

"Before The Dance"  (pastel, 18x12 inches)  Donated

This was a portrait done from life in the Wednesday evening Portrait Group at the Coppini Academy of Fine Art years ago when I lived in San Antonio. I miss that place now that I'm an hour away, just a little too far to go there regularly.

I've donated this painting to the 100@100 show at the Wimberley Valley Art League to benefit the victims of the recent flooding in Wimberley Texas.This one might be delegated to the silent auction for works of over $100 value! If you're near the area I hope you can make it to the show this Saturday, June 27, 2-6pm, at the Wimberley Community Center! If not, contact the Wimberley Valley Art League and ask them about viewing and bidding or purchasing the artworks online!

Daughter & Mother - a portrait commission - day 25

"Daughter & Mother"  (conte pencil and pastel pencil, 8x10 inches)  sold

'Tis the Season! As Christmas approaches, my commissioned portraits will be taking precedence over my daily paintings. As I complete one, I'll post one from an earlier year, to protect the current Christmas surprises!

To inquire about commissioning a portrait for a Christmas gift (there's still time!) visit my Drawings Site: www.ritakirkmandrawings.com.

The Sorceress

"The Sorceress" (pastel, 8x6) will be my donation to the Bayou City Art Fest, Downtown Houston, silent auction "Art Heist" this weekend Oct 12-13! I'll have the rest of my unsold Renaissance Portrait series in my booth, gathered together for the first time in months!
For more info on the fest: http://bayoucityartfestival.com/

Family Quick-Sketch Portraits

 Mother and Daughter (sepia conte and white pastel, 15x12 inches)

 Father and Son (sepia conte and white pastel, 15x12 inches)

 This Houston client had contacted me months ago to schedule a place and time to get his family's portraits drawn in the quick-sketch style. I had drawn them all years ago and he wanted an update. After several 'almost' appointments, our schedules finally connected in June.

Below are the happy customers! Thank you Kevin and family!

Stay Tuned! Another "Quick-Sketch Portrait" workshop is in the works at the New Braunfels Art League, back by popular demand!

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Miss Lilly Rose

"Miss Lilly Rose"  (pastel, 15x8 inches)  $1375

Well, I've learned my lesson from the last post, never to mention the weather in advance. South central Texas from San Antonio up past Austin and miles to the east and west of IH-35 received massive amounts of rain, severe thunderstorms and flash flooding all weekend long. Kerrville had a 40% chance of rain, and sure enough, it rained just about exactly 40% of the weekend.

Thanks to my excellent weekend in Houston last month, and my imminent solo show, I wasn't too bummed with the low sales. It helped a lot that it did not rain during closing and tear-down time!

View from my booth, midday Saturday

Artists socializing

 So now my attention is on my solo show in Breckenridge, TX, for which I have to deliver 25+ works this Friday. I almost have my list complete, and am even trying to finish 2 new pieces by Thursday. "Miss Lilly Rose" will be there!

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Nancy - 15 minute Quick Sketch Portrait

"Nancy"  (approx. 17x13 inches)  sold

Boy, I've had a busy weekend! My 2-woman show opened at Cactus Jack's with a reception on Friday evening, demos by Jeannette and I on Saturday, a caricature gig on Saturday evening, and another demo on Sunday for the Austin Pastel Society.

Well, I don't quite have pics of either demo yet, so today I'm going to promote my Quick-Sketch Portrait Workshop next weekend at the New Braunfels Art League Gallery. Last month I was fortunate to have demonstrated at the September meeting of the Art League. Here I want to show you one of the 4 quick portrait sketches that I did that evening. This is Nancy, a past president of the New Braunfels Art League. I believe this sketch took me about 16 minutes, but I was talking and answering questions as I drew. My average time for a portrait like this is about 12 minutes. When I'm really in a rush, I have been clocked at 7 and 1/2 minutes. Admittedly, that's with not much shading. But I still got a decent likeness.

I do these sketches at the San Antonio Rodeo in February each year, and also at a craft show at Rolling Oaks Mall in San Antonio for about 3 weeks at Christmastime.

I'm offering a workshop to teach this method and philosophy of drawing the portrait very quickly, next weekend, Nov 2-4, 2012, at the New Braunfels Art League. Click Here for an informational flyer! There are still just a few spaces left in the workshop, for anyone interested and close by!

Below are the progression shots of Nancy's portrait.