Limestone College

I never know where a portrait commission might take me.  This one took me to Limestone College in Gaffney, South Carolina, where I visited the beautiful campus of this small college.  I will be painting Dr. Walt Griffin, president of the college for the past 20 years.

The portrait in progress.

Sketchbook - Cats

I was looking through some old sketchbooks the other day and was reminded of how often I used to draw our cats (cheap and available models.)  They liked to hang around the studio and were easy targets for a quick sketch.

One Down - Two To Go

Continuing to paint this trio of Ballet Folklorico dancers.  One is finished - two more to go.

"Trio"  (in progress)   30" x 48"

Steps To The Gate

I often have the urge to get out the watercolors and splash some color around.  I decided to paint the impressive wrought iron gate to the HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital in Fort Worth (originally the W. I. Cook Memorial Hospital) - an Italian Renaissance style structure built in 1929.

But first a couple of studies for practice.

A step-by-step look at the painting progression.

"Hospital Gate"   21" x 14"   Watercolor

The Entrepreneur

"Mr. Frank Tourville Sr."   44" x 30"   Oil

Forty five years ago Mr. Frank Tourville Sr. started his small business on a shoe string.  His company, Zeus Inc., is now a world leader in the design and manufacturing of teflon tubing for the automobile and medical industries.  The Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston commissioned me to paint this portrait honoring him for his charitable contributions and work for the hospital.

Magenta, Yellow, Cyan

I have started my fourth painting in a series of Ballet Folklorico dancers.  My first step was to do a quick watercolor sketch to get an idea about composition and color.

"Trio"   8" x 10"   Watercolor

Next a quick oil study to more accurately establish my darks and lights.

Then a drawing on canvas with a brush and some yellow ochre.

The painting is under way.  I'll now begin adding detail from left to right.

"Trio" (in progress)  30" x 48"   Oil 

Here are the other three paintings in the series.

"Mariposa"   24" x 24"   Oil

"Ballet Folklorico"   12" x 16"   Oil

"Rosa"   36" x 24"   Oil