Hair Hair!

Michael Bennett Hock

 16 x 20

Oil on Raymar Panel

NFS

My oldest son, Michael, has the most fabulous hair!  It is thick and curly...just fabulous.  I love painting hair and love it when he lets it grow so it gets really curly.  I am constantly asking...no begging... anyone in my family to sit for me.  Every once in a while I wear them down!  Being snowed in I have been able to get my husband to sit...though he does fall asleep.  I guess hiring a professional model would be ideal...but not always financially viable. Suffice it to say I have been having a great time, experimenting, painting and planning with no pressure or expectations.  My favorite way to paint.  

Impressions of Cate

Impressions of Cate

16 x 20

Oil on Raymar panel

$600

A week or so ago I was fortunate to have a friend's daughter sit for me.  I painted most of this while Cate was in my studio and finished up after she left.  Cate is a beautiful young girl with fabulous, luxurious hair.  She was so fun to work with.  She was game for dressing up, wearing hats, and very natural in all her poses.  I was amazed at her maturity and ability to sit...so poised and elegant.  I look forward to having her sit for me again as I pursue painting from life.  

A Study in darks and lights

Kerilynn

9 x 12

Oil on Raymar Panel

Study

My goal for this piece was to simply show dark and lights…to project a likeness with as little information as possible.  I was doing great and then I started to knit pick to I had to stop.  I used a photo resource of a beautiful young woman who works at Huckleberry Fine Art in Rockville, Md.  It is a fabulous gallery…if you want to see some great artwork and have a great time…stop by!  When I asked if I could use Kerilynn's picture for a resource she generously consented.

So day 5 of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 challenge…a day of mostly rest…produced this sketch.  

Tomorrow I have the enormous pleasure of painting from a live model!  I am spending the rest of today setting up the scene and sketching so I will be ready for her!  

Sara - a budding artist

Sara

9 x 12

Oil on Raymar Panel

NFS

This is day #4 in the 30 in 30 challenge hosted by Leslie Saeta.  Today I painted a quick sketch of Sara a neighbor of mine.  She graciously offered to sit for me a quite a while ago. I asked her just to sit and read a book so I could paint.  She is beautiful and has the most gorgeous hair…what a joy to paint!  I have several resource photos from the sitting.  

Below is the sketch I did of her before I started the painting.  

I am thoroughly enjoying this challenge.  

Sue - National Military Spouse Network

Sue

16 x 20

Oil on Raymar Panel

NFS

Sue Hoppin is the founder of the NMSN, National Military Spouse Network.  It is a networking and professional development organization supporting military spouses who balance their own goals and ambitions with the military lifestyle.  

I met Sue recently through our mutual facebook friend, Carrie Roets Waller.  Carrie is an accomplished and award winning watercolorist.  Sue is organizing the third annual National Military Spouse Network Summit and this year will feature a Military Spouse's small works exhibit which I will curate.  That is what brought Sue and me together...Carrie and her recommendation that I curate this show with her.  I am very excited.

Then I met Sue in person and found out that she is a bundle of energy, ideas, and she can make things happen.  So the first Annual NMSN art show will be during the Summit on October 19th at the Mary Gates Learning Center in Old Town Alexandria.  It is going to be a great show and a great networking event.  

After meeting Sue and hearing all her wonderful ideas I was compelled to try and capture that spirit on canvas.  Sue has a shock of long, thick, black tresses that are absolutely gorgeous.  I loved painting this one...I am pleased to say that she loves the painting also.  

So I continue...painting smiles AND it counts as a Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 entry!!! Yayyy...winners all around.

National Gallery of Art - Copying "Girl Arranging her Hair" by Mary Cassatt

This is the painting I am copying at the National Gallery of Art.  It is "Girl Arranging her Hair" by Mary Cassatt.  The NGA has some interesting information about Mary Cassatt, Edward Degas and their professional relationship at this link.  

I began at home sketching the piece...a rough sketch...just to see where everything is on the canvas.  I sketched it three times.  Then I took a trip to the National Gallery of Art and took notes on style and color.  I study the brush strokes and try to figure out what colors were used.  

I arrive at the gallery and set up. While sketching I try to remember my notes.  In spite of my preparation I kept sketching the head too big!  The head is really very small on the canvas and I was making it much to prominent.  After calming down I think I have it proportionally correct. 

Then...color!  I got the folds of the fabric in and began placing color in the night gown.  It is dark...but I will lighten it up later on. 

Here is the result of my days' work.  I am happy with the folds...they still need work, and the gown has to be quite a bit lighter...you can see the bowl and pitcher in the background...the value of the gown has to be lighter than that...so I have some work to do.  I was afraid to start too light...but I will be able to lighten it up.  

I did meet a lot of nice people...as always...and got some very nice comments in spite of my struggles.  One man was telling his son all about me and my work (his son was about three years old)...then he came back about a half hour later to say he forgot to tell me I was doing a good job!  hahaha!!!  

The Veil - Weddings Series

The Veil

18 x 36

Oil on Canvas

$900

Today is the day I install my featured artist show at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia.  This is one of my favorite pieces in the show.  When beginning a painting I usually start with my shadows and darks and then move towards the light.  In this piece I began with the face almost stark white and then spent weeks layering on glazes to achieve soft, subtle definition.  The process was fun experimentation.  I had just watched a you tube video of Da Vinci's work and the process was mentioned.  I really had no direction other than the casual mention of the a light base and numerous glazes in the video but I thought I would try anyway.  It is supposed to allow the light to travel through the layers to the bright layer underneath and give a luminescent quality.  I am pleased with the result and will certainly try it again.

And here is my self portrait again.  I just can't seem to let go of it.  Every time I walk by I add color and definition to it.  I am having fun seeing how many colors I can use and experimenting with brush strokes.  It is such a great learning tool for me.