Portrait Demo at Weiler House Fine Art Gallery

Last Saturday I was thrilled to present a live portrait demonstration at my local art gallery in Fort Worth, TX. I started painting around 5:00 p.m., and visitors could come and go as they pleased, or stay and watch the whole thing. I had an absolute BLAST! I always wondered how my piano-playing twin sister came to be such a performer who loves the spotlight, when I didn't enjoy performing at all. I'd start a recital piece and mess up the very beginning, then involuntarily say, "Oops!" Well, it turns out that I am a performer after all... I just needed a different kind of spotlight! :-) I've discovered that I love painting for an audience. I somehow managed to paint not one, but TWO portraits during the 4 1/2 hours that I demonstrated at the gallery, and I enjoyed every second of it.

The event was part of Fort Worth's monthly Gallery Walk. Since the demo was so well received, I plan on making this a regular thing. I'll be continuing to post on my Facebook page and monthly newsletter, to ensure that you stay updated as to when my next demo will be.

Meanwhile, here are some pictures from the evening.

My model was Joan Ryan, the wife of gallery owner Bill Ryan. I've been wanting to paint Joan since I met her - she has lovely cool skin tones and such a sweet expression. It was an honor to paint her!

There were actually two artists in the room... :-)

Above: The finished portrait of Joan. 16x12" - oil on Raymar linen panel.

Above: I started my second portrait quite differently from the first, since Audette, my beautiful volunteer, had much warmer skin tones and colors in her clothes than Joan did. Instead of using the white canvas, I toned with a wash of transparent oxide red, then moved in to the block-in.

Above: you can see all the finger prints on the canvas where I used my pinky to steady my hand. :-)

Above: The finished portrait of Audette. 14x11", oil on linen.

Portrait Demo at Weiler House Fine Art Gallery