Painting portraits

I am becoming interested in painting portraits again. The process and concentration required to make the likeness of a specific individual is I think the most demanding subject an artist can undertake. I draw the head freehand and then paint it as directly as possible. Paying careful attention to the way shapes combine to make a single object (the head) and any subtle nuance of color and tone that can be rendered as seen, emphasized or ignored.The primary objective is to render the model but it cannot be escaped that it is being done with paint and that the paint must have an interest of its own independent of but in relation to the head.
I read this article on JSSargents thoughts about painting a portrait and was impressed by his obsession and clearheaded, practical approach. It is a paradox of painting that there are so many technical aspects to realistic rendering but that the real power comes from the painters inner void and confidence beyond the box. This comes through in these words from JSS

http://www.handprint.com/HP/WCL/sargent.html



Bill 11x15 watercolor. About 1 hour


Steve Kleier / Artist

I look pretty happy with this demo I did at the Columbia Art Center last month. I gave a two day watercolor workshop there and it was well attended by several talented and interested local artists. The CCA is a wonderful facility with a professional gallery, performance space and of course an art studio.Thanks to the CCA for hosting the event and all the folks who signed up. It went well and I hope to do more workshops there in the future. Sorry about the hair.


Steve Kleier / Artist

Here are a couple sketches I did in my sketchbook this morning at the coffee shop. I enjoy this kind of drawing and am aware that I am trying to capture only the bare bones of the scene. I look for gesture, proportion and relation of shapes. These take me only a few minutes to draw and of course the models are always moving.

Steve Kleier / Artist