Portraits from Photos

Although my first choice is to paint from life, I do paint portraits from photos when that's not possible!

Half-Hour Portrait

With the help of a few creative and patient parents, I have worked out a way to paint two-and-a-half-year-olds (not a demographic known for their ability to sit still) from life. So bring on the little ones!

Commissioned Portrait

Second of the portraits that went to Sweden. How cute is she??

Half-Hour Portrait

Sweet little face. 

Half-Hour Portrait

My post about Andrew got me thinking about artists who have influenced me through the years. First, there was my mom. Mostly I remember feeling frustrated as a kid because I couldn’t draw as well as she did. (It took me a long time to accept that I couldn’t teach myself everything I needed to know about how to do anything.) Fast forward to the University of Michigan, and my first life drawing class. I don’t remember the teacher’s name. She wasn’t friendly, she wasn’t encouraging, and she was very tough. I thought of her as the “drill instructor.” But she taught me the value of working fast. I certainly don’t paint quickly all the time, and the half-hour time limit requires a very high level of concentration, but I really value the looseness it forces on me.

Half-Hour Portrait

Today while working on a portrait, I thought about how very much I learned about painting faces from Andrew Lattimore. It’s been a long time since I studied with him, but often, as today, I’ll find that Andrew’s voice joins my internal discussion as I work my way through a painting. (Not the times when I’m throwing a temper tantrum—that’s all me.) Anyway, when it happens, it’s nice to have the company.

Half-Hour Portrait

The best is when I feel like someone's personality makes it into the portrait.

Half-Hour Portrait

Such good concentration for a little one!

Half-Hour Portrait

Sweet, self-possessed little face.

Half-Hour Portrait

I like the reflected light in this one.

Half-Hour Portrait

Best compliment from an 8-year-old ever: "Well THAT was worth sitting for!"

Half-Hour Portrait

Huge eyes, tiny rosebud mouth, and a whole lotta hair.

Half-Hour Portrait

This was a special one.

Half-Hour Portrait

Some little ones have such big eyes that I get carried away and forget that I have to fit the rest of their face in the picture.

Half-Hour Portrait

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What a unique beauty this girl is. The portrait was to be a gift for her mother; I hope she loved it as much as I enjoyed painting it.

Half-Hour Portrait

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I had to take this photo with my phone, so it’s a little grainy. (If anyone knows how to take a better photograph of artwork with an iphone, please let me know!) So, as a general rule, who do you think is best able to hold a little smile for half an hour? I think that I now have enough anecdotal evidence to state with confidence that pre-teen girls win this one by a mile.  

Half-Hour Portrait

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I painted this little sweetie last weekend. She wasn’t quite convinced that it was ok for me to be be studying her so intently, but luckily for her, half an hour can only stretch on for so long. Look at those big brown eyes and stray curls—isn’t she cute?

Half-Hour Portrait

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And here is the big sister, who was also great fun to paint. Glasses are a challenge in such a short time—if you’ve got the distance between the eyes off, or between the eyes and the wings of the nose, the glasses will be the wrong shape. But it makes me very happy when I get them right!