Fort Worth Magazine Blog Post - "Evening Light on Bass Hall"

Click here to watch a time-lapse video and learn more about this painting.

"Evening Light on Bass Hall"   40" x 30"   Oil

Botanic Garden Plein Air

A few paintings done on location at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.

"Botanic Garden Planter"   12" x 9"  Oil

"Botanic Garden View"   9" x 12"   Oil

"Steps to the Garden"   9" x 12"   Oil

"Japanese Garden Stepping Stones"   12" x 9"   Oil

"Heron Sculpture"   12" x 9"   Oil

TCU - Memorial Column

This painting depicts one of the two columns given by Texas Christian University class of 1923 in honor of "those who paid the supreme price in World War I".  These architectural structures are just one of the many interesting sights that can be found along University Drive through the TCU campus.

"Memorial Column - TCU"   30" x 24"   Oil

Óbidos, Portugal - View From The Wall

White washed walls + red-tiled roofs + sunny day = fun to paint.

This Portuguese medieval village of Óbidos has been around "since forever", as the local brochure states.

"View From The Wall"   9" x 12"   Oil

Art of the Portrait Conference - Day Three

Jeff Hein's "Face-Off" competition portrait received the most votes from the Portrait Society of America's "Art of the Portrait" conference attendees.  Here's his painting.

The winner of the "Face-Off" competition gets to do a demo in front of the audience of 800.  No pressure!  Jeff kept us entertained as he painted the talented Katherine Stone, one of the twenty finalists in this year's International Competition. 

When the model took a break, Jeff turned the painting upside down to better evaluate the structure of the face and to easily see any adjustments that needed to be made to the drawing.  (In the picture below you can see him painting it upside down while Katherine looks on.)

Next up...the twenty finalists and the grand prize winner.

Earth Day

One of the many varieties of wildflowers blooming in the Tandy Hills Natural Area in Fort Worth.

"Larkspur"   20" x 14"   Watercolor

Gone To Carolina

Here's a recent portrait commission I've been working on. 

 Early on I establish my darkest dark, my lightest light and the brightest color in the painting.

I like to work all over the canvas before adding details.

The background seems too busy so I simplify it.  I now start to add details and work on her likeness.

The painting is finished and on the way to its home in North Carolina.

"Laura"   44" x 30"   Oil

Courthouse At Dusk

I recently finished this painting of the Tarrant County Courthouse which was built in 1895 and is one of the architectural masterpieces here in Fort Worth.  It particularly shines at dusk when the light is fading and the city lights along Main Street are beginning to turn on.

And speaking of Main Street...the Main Street Arts Festival happens next week from Thursday to Sunday.  The festival is regarded as one of the nation's premiere art and craft fairs and is a fun event to experience.

"Courthouse at Dusk"   30" x 24"   Oil

A couple of details:

A Collection Of Sketchbooks

Over the years I've collected a number of sketchbooks...

...and filled them with sketches of daily life, ideas for paintings and copies of Old Masters artwork.

A few close-ups:

Our living room and dining room.

Architectural detail of the Flat Iron Building in Fort Worth.

Study of one of the subjects in John Singer Sargent's painting, "The Pailleron Children".

Study for a larger watercolor of a geranium pot in Portugal.

Lucy's Waltz

Here's how my portrait of Lucy waltzed along.

Video by Justin Tennison

"Lucy"   36" x 27"   Oil

"A Watercolor" - Video

Video by Justin Tennison.

Thank you to the kind folks of the Society of Watercolor Artists.

My Grandson and My Wife

A portrait of two of my favorite people. 

(Nana prefers to be in the background.)

"My Grandson and My Wife"    16" x 12"    Oil

Portugal - Geraniums (Part Two)

A few more geranium pots in Óbidos, Portugal.

"Study for The Colonnade"   9" x 12"   Oil

"Pot of Geraniums"   21" x 14"   Watercolor

"Pink and White Geraniums"   36" x 36"   Oil

Portugal - Geraniums (Part One)

Another subject to which I have often returned - Geranium pots in Portugal

"Red Geraniums"   36" x 24"  Oil

"Geraniums"   18" x 14"   Oil

"Geranium Pot"   12" x 9"   Oil

"The Dean" Portrait and Palette Progression

So much of the work for a painting happens on the palette.  Here's how my palette and this portrait progressed.

Video by Justin Tennison

40" x 30"   Oil

Calf Roper

In this city known for its Cowboys and Culture, the cowboy side of things has been emphasized for the past few weeks.  The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo has been in town.

"Calf Roper"   12" x 24"   Oil

They Love Lucy

A recently delivered portrait commission.

"Lucy"   36" x 27"   Oil

Here's how the painting progressed.

"Lucy"   36" x 27"   Oil