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Artistic GoalsI have a goal for each of my two fields of interest: portraits and illustrations. Portrait Goals. I want to capture a likeness of my subject in a characteristic pose, preferably in a typical setting. Yet I don’t want the look of a photograph, since if the client wanted a photo, he could hire a photographer. Instead, I want to capture the essence of the person and his best qualities. I have recently begun a new series that I call “Giving Back.” I strive to demonstrate images of humans serving their companion animals. So in one painting, someone is holding a totally relaxed, very happy, old gray tomcat. In another, a woman waits in a field for her horse to amble over for his weekly grooming. The idea is to show that humans can very effectively give attention, love, and affection to the ones who love us unconditionally. Illustration Goals. I want to depict interesting scenes that draw the viewer’s interest. I want to encourage the viewer to wonder, “What book is this from? And where can I get it?” I feel most fulfilled when the viewer imagines himself in the scene. MediaI work in acrylics, soft pastels, charcoals, and pen, ink, and watercolor. I prefer to work on PastelBord, Masonite, illustration board, or other rigid surface. I start with the subject and feeling that I want the work to project, and I choose the medium from there. For example, I would paint a portrait of a dog or cat in pastel, because pastel complements fur very nicely. TechniquesI always start with at least one photograph, sometimes more. The challenge is to get the lighting and shadows right, but at the same time to form the image in my imagination. So I often combine parts of multiple photographs to create one work. I tape 4x4 acetate grids over the original photos, draw the grid and subjects on graph paper, and then use graphite paper to transfer the image on the final surface. Then I paint the image in the medium that best suits the mood of the work. |
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