Filed under: Instagram, Paintings, Portrait | Tags: cat, painting, portrait, scottish-fold
nabooly, 2012, acrylic on canvas, 80 x 100cm
I have been wanting to give my parents a house-warming gift for ages, so my mom asked me if I could create two paintings for a specific area in their new mountain home in Beirut. She had a few guidelines for me, one of which was ‘no people’, which is like asking McDonald’s not to serve burgers. She said that my dad had already purchased two figurative paintings from a local artist and wanted something different. So with challenge in hand, I thought of oranges, apples, furniture, eggs, and even Persian rugs. But I finally settled on Nabooly the family cat. He’s a gorgeous Scottish-Fold who sits around the house doing nothing all day (still life?). Plus, I felt I could sneak some people-like features into his face and expression. My parents haven’t seen the paintings yet so I’m deeply hoping they like them. (more…)
Like this:
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…)
Filed under: A Portrait of Yasmine Alkandari, Portrait, Step By Step | Tags: acrylic, alkandari, commission, Kuwait, painting, portrait, Step By Step, yasmine
my new camera is less than spectacular. it doesn't capture the strokes like my old camera did
Yasmina this morning. I’m really enjoying the skirt and will work some more on her crazy top. It just needs to be tweaked here and there. (more…)
Filed under: A Portrait of Yasmine Alkandari, Portrait, Step By Step | Tags: acrylic, commission, Kuwait, portrait, Step By Step, yasmine alkandari
I did some things I should have done earlier. Thanks to the advice of several friends, it was suggested that I stop for a while and step back. Another thing I did was change the easel. The one I was working isn’t adjustable (it is, but mine never worked so I would adjust my height to it). I found it much easier to paint Yasmine’s face when hers was at the same level as mine. (more…)
Filed under: A Portrait of Yasmine Alkandari, Portrait, Step By Step | Tags: acrylic, commission, Kuwait, oil pastels, portrait, Step By Step, yasmine alkandari
Eek. Although I’m liking the painting itself more, I think I screwed up my sister’s face a little. So I hope she doesn’t see this! I know I’ll make it work, I know I will. (more…)
Filed under: Portrait, Step By Step | Tags: commission, fantasy, Kuwait, oil pastels, paint, painting, portrait, Step By Step
A few days ago I was commissioned to paint a portrait. It’s a scary thing, but I am just starting to enjoy it. I know I still haven’t captured the spirit of this young woman but I know I will. I can’t wait til it’s done. I just hope she will happy with it x (more…)
Filed under: Celebrity, fairuz, Paintings, Portrait | Tags: acrylic, diva, fairuz, Kuwait, lebanese, oil pastels, painting, portrait, saint, singer
fairuz, 2010, acrylic and oil pastels on canvas, 135cm x 250cm
Please remember that Fairuz is on display at the Boushahri Gallery for a week. The gallery is located in Salmiya, Baghdad Street, Building 36. Park your car in the back, there’s usually lots of space. If you’re walking, you can go straight through the side door (by the camera store). Morning hours are 10am-1pm, evening hours are 5pm-9pm except for Thursdays. The gallery is closed on Fridays.
Filed under: Celebrity, Paintings, Portrait, Um Kulthum | Tags: diva, dress, egyptian, goddess, green, handerchief, icon, Kuwait, legend, portrait, scarf, singer, Um Kulthum
um kulthum, 2010, acrylic on canvas, approx. 135cm x 250cm
