Portfolio of Works

I enjoy the rich feel and fluidity of oil paint. The challenge of creating the surface with different textures and brush strokes has never ending possibilities that I find exciting. I have painted longer with pastel but I have been painting in oil for many years now. I have found that I love working in it  as much as pastel.

There are so many different approaches to painting in oils. I enjoy painting from the live model in the Alla Prima method. Alla Prima literally means "at first." It is a direct way of painting. Paint is applied wet into wet, not waiting for layers to dry. It is usually the method chosen for working from life.

Oils also can be done in a method referred to as glazing. This method is used to create a luminosity that can’t be achieved in alla prima, where the paint is opaque. With glazing,   previous layers, when dry, are painted over with paint that has been mixed with medium. More transparent colors mixed with the medium, can be built up in multiple layers creating a beautiful effect. This method was primarily used by  master painters of the past and can be quite laborious and time consuming.

I discovered the medium of pastel by stumbling upon a book by Daniel Greene titled, simply "Pastel." I loved the beauty of his portrait and figurative work and decided that I wanted to try out this vibrant medium. I love the vivid color and immediacy it offers. With pastel there is no drying time. I can leave it and come back and work on my painting any time without the need to clean brushes or wait for layers to dry. I found it a great fit for a mother of two young children. It also was an easy transition from drawing with graphite and charcoal and seemed a perfect fit for me.

A portrait should not only be a good likeness, but it should capture the inner essence of the subject. Aristotle stated, “The aim of Art is to present not the outward appearance of things, but their inner significance; for this, not the external manner and detail, constitutes true reality.” All portrait artists strive to achieve a representative portrayal of a person, whether they depict them in photographic realism or a more impressionistic style. Jean desires to convey the inner beauty of her subjects, catching a glimpse into their unique character and soul. Edward Burne-Jones is quoted as saying, “The only expression allowable in great portraiture is the expression of character and moral quality, not anything temporary, fleeting, or accidental.” A successful portrait will speak to the viewer and become something that families and loved ones will cherish.

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