Portrait Painting Workshop

If you ever wanted to try your hand at portrait painting, now is the time.  I will be teaching a Portrait Painting Workshop on September 21, 22, 22 at the Tennessee Art League.  Here is a little information about what you can expect.  With some instruction, achieving a likeness is easier than you might think.

Class size:     maximum of 8 students
Location:       Tennessee Art League, 219 Fifth Ave. North, Nashville, TN 37219
Dates:            Friday, Sept. 20, 2013           6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
                      Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013       10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
                      Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013         1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Cost:              TAL members:                      $200
                       Non-members                       $250
Contact:         Jean Gauld-Jaeger      jrgjaeger@aol.com

Students may expect to learn the principles of portrait painting, including color mixing for a variety of skin tones.  Students will paint from a live model and will concentrate on head and shoulders only.  The Friday evening session will consist of a demo and instruction by Jean.  The remaining sessions will have students painting from a live model with individual help as needed by the instructor.

OBJECTIVES:

• Learn to SEE differently
• Learn the composition of the HEAD
• Learn to SIGHT-SIZE
• Learn to mix SKIN TONES
• Learn to identify VALUES
• Learn about EDGES
• Complete a PORTRAIT FROM LIFE

Not being a techie I'm not sure what to do with the new blog format.  Hoping that this image will post, nevertheless.  This is a recent painting done in a pleinair workshop taught by Matt Smith.  He is a terrific painter and teacher.  The scene is one that is recognized by everyone in Leipers Fork, Tennessee.

"Singing In The Rain"

Those in Nashville will recognize The Bluebird Cafe on a rainy night.  Rain or shine the Bluebird is the place to hear good music.  Whether established musicians or newcomers, writers and performers always shine at the Bluebird.  This painting was done in preparation for an exhibit at the LeQuire & Company Gallery at 3900 Hillsboro Pike. The opening reception will be on Friday, February 15 from 5:30 - 7:30.  The theme is "Nashville Nightscapes" a nocturnal journey through the city.  Hope to see you there.

New Portrait

Sharing a new portrait painted last Monday at Open Studio at the Factory in Franklin.  Each Monday eight artists paint a model from 9:30 AM until 2:00 PM.  This is Reisha.  She frequently models and is very creative about costuming and posing.  In this one, we asked for a pensive look.

Recent portrait of Danielle

This portrait of Danielle was painted in an Open Studio session at Southgate Studio in The Factory in Franklin, TN.  We begin painting at 9:30 AM or a little after, and stop painting at 2:00 PM. Danielle is one of our favorite models.  I previously painted Danielle at an Open Studio session last year, photographed her, and completed the painting in my studio.  That portrait won a first place ribbon at the Tennessee Art League Juried Show.  She is a beautiful girl and so much fun to paint.

Completed Cornice Repair

This beauty is completely repaired now and I only wish I could keep it. It's so big that I would have to add a room and I'm not sure just how I would use it. Two of them could support a table but, alas, there is only this one. It was in 4 pieces when I got it and I was asked not to do a complete restoration because the owner likes the signs of wear and tear. It does have the original paint which is simply beautiful. I used a combination of dental castone and elmer's glue to put it back together. I used common window screening material as reinforcement on the back side. The original reinforcement was straw and horsehair mixed with plaster. You can see by the yardstick leaning next to the piece just how big it is. I'll miss it.

Buffalo Girl

This week I traveled to Cleveland, Tennessee with fellow Chestnut Painter, Sandra Harris. We visited Gregg Vital's buffalo farm. Gregg placed his farm in the Land Trust so it will forever be as beautiful and untouched as it was this week. Gregg has six buffalo on his property. There is one bull named Bill, three cows named Peanut, Butter, and Jelly and two calves as yet unnamed. This photo is a painting of one of the cows. She has a beautiful head, so ancient and so magnificent. The second photo is a painting of early morning on the farm while the fog still covered the ground, a most beautiful time of day. Gregg's farm manager, Steve, was very helpful and informative as he introduced us to this beautiful property.