Small Portraits

Working with portraits has been a fun and rewarding challenge. I have focused on landscapes for many years, but more recently taken an interest in portrait painting. It is something I studied while at the Academy of Art University so I was able to jump back into it without too much trouble. I am really focusing on not only capturing the likeness of the bride and groom, but the connection between them and the expression that is shown in their facial features, gestures, and hands. Hands are often overlooked in portraiture as they can be challenging to render in a representational way. But I embrace that challenge as hands are very expressive and help tell the 'story' and convey the message you are trying to depict. I look forward to many new portrait commissions in the new year.

Some helpful references have been the books on heads and hands for the artist by Bridgeman. These books really help you see the shapes of the body as they flow one into another so your drawings do not become too stiff.