a portrait of simon balsom, 2010, oil on canvas, 50cm x 70cm
Well, the painting is done. I’m happy with it as my first oil painting in decades. I’m not going to bother too much about resemblance or even technique. I’m just going to tell myself what I tell everyone I ‘teach’: You will only get better with every painting you do. Oils. Wow. Me. (more…)
Filed under: A Portrait of Yousef Abu-Ghazaleh, Oil | Tags: canvas, Kuwait, oil, portrait
I started a portrait of my son, Yousef this morning. He insisted on wearing a suit because he wanted to give his children something ‘to remember him by’. He’s only twelve. (more…)
the painting after session two. i need to keep reminding myself that i'm working with oils and not acrylics. i'm enjoying this very much, if only sometimes for the smell of the paints. it takes me back to new york 1990
Filed under: Oil, Portrait | Tags: alice neel, Kuwait, oil, painting, portrait
Yesterday I watched a documentary about portrait painter Alice Neel, beautifully filmed by her grandson Andrew Neel. The moment I looked at the DVD cover, lent to me by my sister-in-law Jana, I felt a connection with her work: as if I’d done it, or I could do it, or I do it in my head all the time. It’s very hard to explain. Then, when I saw footage of Alice painting on the screen, my heart started pacing and I felt the excitement she felt. I have painted portraits before, but rarely from life and more rarely so with oils. I was immediately inspired, went out and bought a new set of everything, called up my muse and started this painting. (more…)
