Dog Portrait Winner

Shelley won the drawing sponsored by Training Collar Source for a dog portrait painting. All that was required for one's name to be entered in the drawing was to click on "like" at the business page of Training Collar Source on Facebook. You can still do that and who knows what exciting things may happen.....

Because Shelley has two dogs, I decided to paint both on separate canvases. They are Wire-hair Pointing Griffons and Mother(Frost) and Daughter(Bailey).

Frost
12" X 12" water-based oil
Joanne Osband

Bailey
12" X 12" water-based oil
Joanne Osband

CONGRATULATIONS SHELLEY!

AT LAST, FINISHED!

One of my favorite images taken by Katherine when we were visiting the Quechua children at their school in the high altitudes of Peru has been waiting patiently at my easel.

I absolutely love the faces and close gathering of the children which makes for a delightful composition. They are such sweeties! The textile colors of their clothing adds pizzazz.

The medium is water-based oil paint on a 20" X 16" canvas.

Quechua Children
Joanne Osband

Parts I Like and Parts I Do Not Like

Self-portraits!

What an insightful practice!

Having completed the first self-portrait painted since high school, many interesting dialogues in my head have occurred. I mentioned previously that the process first started with capturing an image of myself that I liked.

As I painted, I found myself detaching from the image of "me" to depicting various features and colors. It seemed that I compartmentalized which we humans tend to do as a distraction mechanism to avoid reality.

Hummmmmmm.

As I continued to paint separate "entities" such as mouth, nose, or eyes my attention was focus solely there. I got lost in wrinkles and details. Due to this process, I feel that the watercolor portrait does not flow together and find myself liking only parts and not the whole. Interesting thought.....

I think I will continue the dialogue with another self-portrait. This one shall be freer and not have the "mug shot" feel.

I told a friend I would not post the self-portrait to my website as I did not particularly like it, but I will post it here out of curiosity for those of you interested in my process.



Back to the beach and rock watercolor painting to escape.....

How About a Self-Portrait?

Recently an e-mail came to me which requested my submission of art for a self-portrait show. I realized that I had not done a self-portrait since high school!

Do I hear a challenge?

Vincent Van Gogh might hold the record for the most self-portraits painted.



The first step for a portrait: need an image.

Taking a photograph of myself was an experience in itself! I learned, after several attempts for a "good picture", that we prefer the image of ourselves to have a certain look. How many times have you looked at a photograph of yourself and not liked it?

This brought back ancient memories of when I was drawing children's portraits. I photographed them and drew from the photo. When I presented the finished portrait to the parents they either loved it or hated it. I even tried to make some changes in their presence, but this did not always correct the problem. Sometimes the child did not like the portrait; my niece for example.

Finally, I have an acceptable image for the self-portrait. The next question is what medium to use......pencil, watercolors, or maybe even oil paints?

When I painted the portrait of my grandson, I enjoyed the dialogue with him as I painted and the study of his features. What will it be like to stare for hours at my face? I believe I have embarked on an insightful journey......

Ask Me About My Grandson

I absolutely love being a Grandma!

My grandson, Haeden, is by far the cutest :)

I knew that one of these days I would be painting his portrait. Jayme, Haeden's Mom, sent me this photo of him smiling as he was on the swing at a park in Oregon. I like the play of light on his face, hat, and jacket and decided this photo would make a great watercolor painting.

Upon completion, I immediately matted and framed the painting.

Haeden's portrait now hangs in my living room where I get to see his smiling face on a daily basis.

Ask Me About My Grandson
Joanne Osband
watercolor

Portrait Continues

Trying to get packed for a ski trip to Whistler, British Columbia, I managed to find a little time to continue the watercolor portrait painting of my darling grandson.

I feel like I am visiting with him when I paint and study his face. Friday, I actually get to spend a little time with him before I leave to ski. It will be another week before I return to the painting and get to see my grandson again.

Here is the progress....



I think I got the dimple and the eyes are getting closer to looking like his. I need to soften the highlights.

Until next time.....

Not A Portrait Painter

I have never considered myself a portrait painter, but every now and then I like the challenge of painting a portrait in watercolors.

Need I say my grandson is very cute?!

I have finally found a photograph of him that intrigues my "challenge quotient" and I find totally adorable. He is wearing his knit hat and donning his heart melting smile.

What I have learned so far is that I enjoy drawing; finding those shapes that define form. I began this watercolor painting with the base color of his skin. Waiting for the paint to dry before I continue.

I feel as if I am spending time with my grandson studying his features.

The first phase of the watercolor painting.....

Colorful Artist

I was just cruising around the Internet this evening and came across an artist whose art I thoroughly enjoy. Being an animal person, I was very drawn to her pet portraits. I really like the way she captures the expressions of the pets and her choice of colors.

She has challenged herself to do 30 pet portraits in 30 days.
She is on number 21.
Take a look.

By the way, here is one of my cats, Gypsy, immortalized in a mixed media collage painting:


and in an oil painting:


She has very expressive eyes and can out stare anyone.

Wonder if this is a message that it is time for me to paint my other pets.....

Portraits

Did you know that all art galleries in the United Kingdom are FREE!?

Are you a fan of portrait art?

One of the most prestigious competitions of it's kind in the world in the category of portraiture is held annually at the National Portrait Gallery in London, England.

Shaun Downey's painting, "Blue Coco" was one of 58 paintings selected from a record 2,177 International entries . His painting was also chosen as the main image of the ad campaign for the exhibition, featured on posters around the UK, the exhibition catalogue, and a banner draping the front of the National Portrait Gallery.

"Blue Coco"
Shaun Downey
oil on canvas
17 x 20 inches
BP Portrait Award 2010

In this fun video, the Toronto based artist Shaun Downey visits the BP Portrait Award 2010 competition, and gives an excellent explanation from an artist's perspective on the other portraits in the exhibition.

Portrait of Cecilia

Cecilia is a lovely Mayan woman who walks the Isla Mujures beach in Mexico carrying items for sale. Sometimes her husband joins her when he is not tending their baby boy. I love her gracious smile and colorful image which inspired me to paint her portrait. I do not consider myself a portrait painter, but every once in a while an image of a person draws my attention. Cecilia is definitely one!



I have not decided if I like this version better or not?



How do you feel?