You know what would make a great Present? *UPDATE* *Completed Portrait*

A commissioned portrait! Contact me soon to get it done in time for the holidays. Meghank at gmail.com.

Here's a work in progress:

UPDATE 12-2-13: Here is the completed portrait:

Portrait of My Sister

Children Series Number Seven

Children Series Number Six

I love this kid.

New Series

The Absinthe Drinkers

Documentation of a fun night at the Cove Saturday.

I really like that place. Has anyone else noticed how fantastic most of the art there is?

Today's Painting

Fall

The trees in Memphis this year are amazing.

Take some time to stare at them if you can.

Painting in Progress

I took photos of this painting as I painted it today.

First I did a general drawing and blocked in what I saw as the darkest areas.

Below I worked on the eyes, because I really can't see what I'm doing unless I can see what the eyes look like.

Trying to move things along, I added in some black (I make my own black).

Here I made a few corrections.

  

I started blocking in her clothing.

Towards the end of a painting, I enjoy leaning back in an armchair and bringing the painting right up close to my face, so that is what I am doing in the following photos.

Let me know in the comments if you have any questions.

Third in Series

This little boy was very insistent on striking this particular pose. So that is all him; I didn't pose him.

Second Portrait in the Series

I love oil paints.

Portraits

There is something about portraits that taps into our most ancient instincts.  We evolved to recognize human faces: it was a basic survival skill. So when we see a painting that can create that same spurt of recognition as the face itself, it amazes us. It's something that can't be suppressed, the same instinct that makes us abhor spiders or snakes and take notice of bright colors.

That's one of the reasons I've always loved making portraits: I love to see the instinctual response of the people who see the portrait. I also get a kick out of taking photos of my portraits and having the camera box in the face, because it recognizes it as a face.  I love portraiture it because I enjoy expending all my energies on creating something that is true to life, and portraiture is a genre that rewards that effort.

Above is a portrait I did yesterday.

Rainy Day

I'm really enjoying gouache. Here's an abacus: 

 Yesterday I wanted to go to the store, but it was raining. So I stayed in and did this picture of me in my raincoat instead: