Portrait Society of America Conference (Day Two)

On the second day of the conference Burton Silverman took the stage and demonstrated his technique for producing a drawing with graphite pencil. We followed along on a big split-screen as he created this drawing in about half an hour.

Next up were Susan Lyon and Michelle Dunaway.  They demonstrated their very different approaches to painting the same subject as they worked simultaneously from the same model.

Meanwhile the twenty finalists in the International Portrait Competition were on display in an adjoining room.  

There we also many art material manufacturers showing and selling their wares.  I have heard so many good things about Rosemary & Co. brushes from the U. K. that I felt I had to buy some to try out.  Rosemary herself had flown in from the Yorkshire Dales to exhibit and sell her line of brushes.

This was truly an international competition with artists from Canada, Estonia, Italy, Sweden and the United States selected as finalists.  I met Aako Pukk who had traveled all the way from Estonia to exhibit this painting of his wife's grandfather.

Next post I'll show the 20 finalists.

Portrait Society of America Conference (Day One)

I've just returned from Philadelphia where I attended the  Portrait Society of America's "Art of the Portrait" conference along with 700 professional and aspiring artists.  The meeting began Thursday evening with a "face-off", where 15 artists painted 5 different models in a little over 2 hours.  Below are photos of a few of the artists who participated.

Tony Pro, Michelle Dunaway and John Ennis

Mary Whyte and Rose Frantzen

Robert Liberace

Robert Liberace's face-off painting

Tony Pro's face-off painting

Mary Whyte's face-off painting

Rose Frantzen's face-off painting

We voted on our favorite face-off painting and the winner did a demo for the attendees on Saturday.  My next post will be about Friday's events.

A Portrait and a Palette

"Mr. Frank Tourville, Sr." (in progress)   44" x 30"   Oil

I'm beginning a portrait of Mr. Frank Tourville, Sr., founder and chairman of Zeus Inc.  His company makes teflon tubing for the medical and aerospace industries and what started out as a small business is now an innovative leader in the industry.  The Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston is honoring him with this portrait.

The sitting took place one morning at a beautiful plantation near Charleston.  I found my subject to be very kind and friendly and not terribly interested in having his portrait painted!  But he was a good sport and patiently posed.  Afterwards I was invited to join him and many folks from the surrounding area for a buffet style lunch at the plantation, a service he provides once every week for the community.

St. Ignatius Academy Building - In Progress

I've begun a painting of the St. Ignatius Academy building in downtown Fort Worth.  This unique structure of the French Second Empire style was completed in 1889 and was originally used as a boarding school for young ladies.  Ever since moving to Fort Worth it has fascinated me as I walk by it - particularly in the late afternoon/evening light.  

"St. Ignatius Academy - Late Afternoon" (in progress)   24" x 30"   Oil

I've decided to simplify the background.  Here's a photo of it's actual surroundings.

I'm a big fan of Edward Hopper's paintings of architecture - one of my favorites being his "House by the Railroad".  I suppose it was in the back of my mind when I got the urge to paint this.  Here's Hopper's painting.

Edward Hopper's "House by the Railroad" (1925)   24"x29"   Oil    

Chairman Of The Board

"Mr. Clarence Scharbauer"   50" x 40"   Oil

"Mr. Clarence Scharbauer"  (detail) 

"Mr. Clarence Scharbauer"  (detail)

The portrait of Mr. Scharbauer is finished, framed and ready to deliver to Texas Christian University.  

Danielle and Gabrielle (or is it Gabrielle and Danielle?)

"The TCU Commons" hanging in the TCU student union building.

These identical twins are two of the subjects in my painting of TCU's Frog Fountain.  When I was on campus gathering reference for this painting, these young ladies and their friend walked up and unknowingly situated themselves in the perfect place for my composition.  (I first posted about it here.)

They sat and visited for a few minutes and then another friend arrived and off they went.   

I thought I'd never see them again and wondered if they would ever see the painting.  One Sunday morning in church, several weeks later, these sisters arrived and sat in the pew right in front of my wife and me!  I recognized them immediately and after the service introduced myself and explained that they were about six inches tall in a painting I was working on and asked how much they charged for modeling.  (no charge)  Thank you Danielle and Gabrielle! 

A Portrait With Some Purple

"Clarence Scharbauer"  (in progress)   50" x 40"   Oil

As I continue to paint subjects around Fort Worth, I'm also working on several portrait commissions.  My subject here is Mr. Clarence Scharbauer, Chairman of the Board of Texas Christian University - hence the use of TCU purple in the background and on his tie! The portrait will be unveiled May 22 and I'm working hard to finish it and to make sure it's dry when I deliver it.