Thursday, August 27, 2009

Going large



Step 3 -- a rough drawing in charcoal
charcoal on acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches
Barbara Muir © 2009
(this series of photos shows the very
beginnings of the work on canvas
for a large double portrait.)



Step 2
spreading the paint to make the ground



Step 1
Colour is squeezed right on the canvas
to start creating the orange ground I prefer.

I've started a big painting that I've been doing studies for
for awhile. It's a 4' x 3' painting on the vertical. Tonight
I had models in the studio playing the characters. Luckily
I have a beautiful vintage dress that is perfect for the woman,
and the man wore a jacket and tie. Few men are as formal as the
husband in this painting would have been going out on a date
a few decades ago.

The models looked great and were completely inspiring.
I did a quick sketch, so you could see how the couple
are going to be placed on the canvas. Then I'll be working
from the photos I have of the actual couple and the photos I have
of my models posing as the couple. These two had the
right attitude -- they seem pretty crazy about each
other, and the couple I'm painting were deeply in love.

I really enjoy painting love, and people in formal dress, so this
is a delightful assignment. Plus I love painting big.

Have a getting-ready-to-go-somewhere-special day.

4 comments:

CHRIS MURRAY said...

I'm primarily an oil painter but wanted to play with acrylics and I discovered you. Love your work. Posting the steps in a painting is very helpful.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Chris,

The new open acrylics work a bit like oil. You might enjoy them. They dry a little bit more slowly than the regular acrylics. Glad you like my steps. More to come!

Take care,

Barbara

eldon warren said...

I really like that bright bold color and the totally energetic brush work you've started this painting with. I can hardly wait to see how it works out. I'm already impressed.
Eldon

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Eldon,

You are so wonderful! I'd love to keep going with a four inch brush,
but I think I need to get a bit finer. Commissions tend to be about accuracy, as well as art. Right?

You are super.

Take care,

Barbara

Portrait Artist

My photo
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I paint and draw on commission and for shows. To commission a portrait, or purchase one of my paintings please contact me at: barbara.muir@sympatico.ca
A major highlight in my career? Drawing Oprah Winfrey live via Skype for her show "Where in the Skype are you? Galleries: Studio Vogue Gallery, Toronto, Canada. The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City. Gallery at the Porch Door, Kingston, Canada. Your positive comments on this blog mean the world to me. I'd love to hear from you!