Friday 18th January 2008 - The Horseman

A second session on Brian, the horseman. I started this one last Saturday at the regular portrait group and got most of it down, the composition, a good start and the face - I don't like painting faces from photographs, they always look frozen to me.
It's nice to have indoor projects while the weather is this cold. Once your paints and your fingers freeze it's time to pack up. I worked on the saddle and the clothing etc. from photographs I took on Saturday. I'm particularly pleased with the saddle bag against the Navajo blanket, I think it looks quite effective.

The Horseman - 30 x 22" - oil on canvas - $1,750

Wednesday 16th January 2008 - Magical Sprite

A second session on this painting of the lovely Alexandria. I was very pleased with the way is came out. I was tempted to leave it as it was and start a second one today and brought a blank canvas with me in case, but I happily worked on this one for the 3 hour session and think it is all the better for it. You can see the earlier version further back in the blog.
Magical Sprite - oil on canvas - 30 x 22" - $1,750

Saturday 12th January 2008 - Horseman

I got the idea to ask Brian to pose for us at the Saturday group when he showed me a painting that his brother had done of him on horseback in one of the galleries where I show my work and where he works. I didn't know that he had been a professional horseman (NOT a cowboy, he informed me) until a couple of years ago when he had a serious back injury. These days he works in the gallery and as a bartender, waiting impatiently for his back to be healed enough to be back in the saddle full time again.
He was delighted to pose for us and brought all the equipment to go with the outfit.
During the painting session he told us stories about life as a horseman and his mentors, told us about the saddle and bridle and much more, which gave us quite an atmosphere to paint in.
I took photos so i can work some more on this piece.
Horseman - oil on canvas - 30 x 22" - unfinished

Wednesday 9th January 2008 - Magical Sprite

Such a lovely model this week! Tiny little woman and such a sweet expression.
My sister, Roz, is visiting this week and she came along to the group with charcoal and paper. She and I were at art college together over 20 years ago and she did some good sketches. It's been lovely having her here.
Magical Sprite - oil on canvas - 30 x 22" -

Saturday 5th January 2008

Chloe has modelled for us a few times at the Thursday night life drawing group (one day I'll get around to posting some of these) but this was my first time painting her portrait. I've been practising painting with my reading glasses on and it makes a big difference! I felt happy with the likeness.
Cloe - oil on canvas - 16 x 12" - $575 - contact me on elizjose@gmail.com

Friday 4th January 2008 - The Rio Grande River at Pilar

What a great day!
I met up with Shari for lunch and then we loaded her easel into my big old painter's car ('92 Ford Taurus Station Wagon) and headed south, hoping to find that the temperature was a little warmer down the hill. We had to stop in at the art supply store as i had broken my turpentine pot on Wednesday and needed another.
We ran into all kinds of painter friends at the store, including Kemper Coley. Her was just going to spend the afternoon priming up canvas and masonite boards but he had his paints with him and we talked him into coming with us. He loaded his gear into my car and off we went.

We chose this spot on the Rio Grande just west of Pilar. We were quite close to the road but there weren't many people out that day. It was a little warmer than up in Taos and we were able to paint long enough to each get some good work done.

Here is a picture of the lovely Shari in action and also one of Kemper demonstrating the 'swordfighting' painter stance - hold you brush at the very end, stand back from your painting and stretch.

The Rio Grande River at Pilar - Oil on Canvas - 20 x 20" - sold. Contact me on elizjose@gmail.com for more details.

Wednesday 2nd January 2008 - Marisol

It's nice to paint inside on these cold days!!!! We were to do a second session on last Wednesday's pose but it was a little too painful for Marisol's arms, so we did a session on this pose. I didn't have a good sized blank canvas with me but luckily Tom had one in the studio and let me have it. My brother gave me some large tubes of oil paint for Xmas and I enjoyed the red very much.
Marisol - oil on canvas - 20 x 30" - $1,350