Self Portrait
To commemorate the big 5-0 birthday last December, I painted the largest self portrait to date. Where did the time go?
Sketchbook
Bought a new sketchbook. New dimensions than my normal 6x8 in. portrait sized sketchbook. Trying to get used to the new size and taking advantage of the landscape orientation.
Practice Makes Perfect
I like doing these smaller sized portraits. They’re a way to experiment and firm up what I like and don’t like about my painting technique. I find I tend to be tight with these paintings which runs contrary to the point of doing these smaller guys. But that’s a win in itself that I know I have this mentality. Something to work on in 2022!.
Happy new year
A good way to end 2021 by finishing off the last 4 spreads of my current sketchbook. A brand new, blank sketchbook awaits me in 2022 with endless possibilities to fill it up.
May everyones new year be the same!
Sketching at all the Centrepoint Mall food court.
Another sketch at the Centrepoint Mall food court. A possible series of paintings following this theme?
Other than the room where I paint, this is the next most used space in my home.
I turned 50 in December. Where did all the years go? I still feel like a 16 year old.
Good bye
Well they’re off to a new home. A small part of me, the pack rat part, is a bit sad that I can’t have them forever, gatherinng dust in my room. However, I’m glad they’ll be hung and appreciated by people other than me.
On a related note, Chef Tom of Foxley Bistro (@foxleyossington) on Ossington Ave. has been tremendously generous with his restaurant in allowing me to hang these and other paintings. Plus his food is delicious!
How Quickly They Grow
I completed these two portraits of my nephew 9 months apart. Two completely different people from the one I painted in Dec. 2020 and the one I just completed This month.
Before I know it, he’ll be getting married!
The 1% Principle
in WIP, portrait painting
It’s been tough trying to get motivated to paint after coming home from work. But I always remind myself of the 1% principle. It can be illustrated by this: 1 raised to the power of 365 (days) will equal 1. However, 1.01 raised to the same power (365) will equal 37.8.
All I need everyday is that .01 effort to start the blood flowing when I’m in front of my easel. Just a bit of effort will get me somewhere.
I’ve been chipping away at this small commission for the last two weeks. It’s been a little frustrating trying to portray the bubble bath to my liking. But all I have to do is add one bubble at a time.
Now it’s time to hit the easel.
Job Interview
Finished the February self portrait. Painting this particular self portrait seemed to have gone quickly. A I getting more comfortable painting portraits or just myself? I think it’s the best one yet and I’m contemplating submitting it to a portrait competition.
The hands were the part I spent the most time on. It was a challenge painting a figure at middle distance. I couldn’t be too general because it would have looked unfinished and I couldn’t be too detailed because it would have looked out of place with he rest of the portrait. Finding the right balance was key.
Sketchbook
More sketches from my daily commute to work on the TTC subway. I’m looking forward to the day when I could make people equally uncomfortable sketching at a cafe.
Sketchbook
The only chance I have to sketch people in public is on my way to work on the transit. The upside is that my “models” are usually sleeping or nose deep in their phones. However I look forward to the day when I could go to a cafe to have a coffee and sketch my fellow cafe goers.
First portrait of 2021
The first portrait I have finished for 2021 is a self portrait. A good way to start the new year. A bit older, a few more white hairs and a few more wrinkles.
The finished version can be seen here.
Sketchbook
After completing the portraits of my nephew over my holidays and taking too much time for each of these daily paintings, I wanted to just do some quick studies. They were fun to do and I need to do more of them. And of course, the ever present sketches of my subway compatriots are included as well.
A Ben A Day
My familiarity with painting my nephew is slim. So I decided to produce a painting of him over my holidays everyday. A challenge to produce a daily portrait because I have a tendency to overwork things and get into detail even if it’s a daily portrait exercise.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
This one got away from me. I find painting him head on to be a difficult angle.
Day 6
My favourite of all of the portraits. I really like how I didn’t adhere to realistic skin tones.
Day 6 detail
Day 8
(I did a virtual sitting with my niece on day 7. It’s the previous post)
Day 9
Day 9 detail
The Go To
Christmas holidays means more time to paint. If I’m stuck I usually call up my niece to do a virtual sitting with me and she usually obliges. This was the last painting of 2020. Hopefully 2021 is a much better year for all of us.
Spam…
in giclees, self portrait
My friend gifted me this beautifully made Spam patterned mask and I thought it only fair that she receives a Spam themed gift in return, a giclée of my Spam painting.
Last batch
The last batch of subway sketches before the holidays. I’m trying to work up the nerve to sketch people head on, when they’re awake. If you follow me, you know most of my subway sketches are of people who are sleeping or deeply immersed in their phones. Hopefully 2021 will give me some courage to sketch people head on.
A New Idea
I have a love hate relationship with horse racing. As a child my father would take me to the track sometimes and I was always attracted to the pageantry of the horses and their colorfully clothed jockeys when they paraded out onto the track for their race. However, I was always a bit distressed for the horses, especially when they came down the stretch because the jockeys would use theor whips to urge them on. As a boy, I thought this was a bit cruel and as a an adult I still hold onto that belief. But the majesty of the horse and their jockeys remain in my mind and these initial paintings are studies to get acquainted with how to paint y horse and their jockeys.
Sketchbook
Tachiai…done? I think so.
This is the stage where I sit back and just look at the painting. Am I done? Feels done. I think. I’ll stare at it for one more day.
