Wednesday, June 16, 2010

How a portrait grows


Pam in New York
stage one
acrylic on canvas
36 x 38 inches
(The figure is in,
the blue underpainting defines
the shape of the dress)


Pam in New York
Stage two,
acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010
(Some refining)


Pam in New York
preliminary face sketch
black marker on bond paper
8 x 10 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010


Pam in New York
Stages 2, 3, 4
acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010
(Blocking in the dress,
underpainting the chair and
pillows.)


Pam in New York
Stages 5,6,7,8,
acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010
(The portrait comes
together -- the face, body,
dress, chair and the
start of the background)


Pam in New York,
Stage 9
acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010
(Painting on the necklace.
The necklace is painted in
metallic silver, with
real silver leaf accents)




Pam in New York final
Acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010
(The portrait is finished -- it's
a happy result)

I've shown you some of the stages of the portrait as
it developed. I don't show my commission clients the
portrait until I know it's done. There are many stages
that are part of the process that don't look like progress
to the untrained eye. But each stage is building to the
next.

Have an enjoying-each-stage-in-your-work day.

8 comments:

Mitzi Easley said...

Thank you for posting these stages Barbara. So great to see your progress. I'm spying your paintings on the studio walls and wishing I was seeing them in person - you do beautiful work!

Linda Popple said...

Thanks for sharing the progression of this portrait. It is a beautiful portrait!

eldon said...

I love watching you work. I get it about not showing work to the folks who have commissioned something. Sometimes those in between stages can scare the heck out of them.
E

Karen Bruson said...

Thanks for sharing your process.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Mitzi,

Thanks so much for your kind encouragement. You've made me feel super.

Take care,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Linda,

Thanks so much. Yes it really worked out well. Always a happy ending.

Take care,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Eldon,

I laughed when I read that.True,
when the painting hit the stage of the black dress, no highlights, unfinished face, and the red underpainting for the yellow of the chair -- that could have been hard to see.

Luckily it was quickly transformed, but that stage was needed for the final outcome.

Take care,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Karen,

Thanks for your super kind encouragement. I love your work, and learn so much from you.

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!