Friday 10 February 2017

MAX

Don't ask where the locomotive series are....? I continue to go where the mood takes me. So I'm painting my grandson-in-law, Max: the Australian who married my best friend/granddaughter Giselle!

Why I've gone for a massive canvas (36 inch x 28 inch) I don't know ... wanted to bring a bit of drama into things and slosh some oils about.


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It began formally but the brushes took over and the hood began to appear! Not sure where this one's going ... only that it's going to be in mono .... but who knows it could end up anywhere!


Just had a few days up in the mountains of North Wales - reminds me of Austria.

15 comments:

  1. Excellent portrait John...I would love to see this finished..keeping in mono would be very interesting...great expression. I also re-visited your new blog....your work is absolutely amazing....

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    1. Thanks, Hilda. I loved your portrait of the racehorse

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  2. Lovely painting, I though you had disappeared! Cold and snowy here, it's winter again. Have a great weekend, hugs, Valerie

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    1. Thanks, Valerie, long way to go on it yet.

      I n=ever vanish .... I do get lost at times though.

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  3. What a wonderful, expressive face Max has. Was it hard to do the mouth? It looks as if it is moving. Great job! I am looking forward to seeing what more you do to it.
    I can relate to the comparison of areas of North Wales and Austria.. I find different counties have very similar terrain to areas of the USA, but the architecture is what it different. Parts of India even had the same cactus and colored soil as New Mexico. Wonderful world.

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    1. Max is the ideal sitter: he's an artist, very tall dark and handsome and can grow a beard in a week. His grandfather was a full aborigine.

      The mouth is a bit skewed at the moment, but as you (and Singer Sargent) warned me of mouths (and eye shape), I try hard in those areas.

      When I used to come home from the deserts of the Middle East, it was always the greens that amazed me as we broke through the clouds.

      Really loved that last 'egg' painting of yours.... mind blowingly brilliant

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    2. Hope you don't ruin the mouth...I was paying a complement. ..it is so hard to get them to look natural like that.

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    3. I took it as a compliment, and meant that you made me aware of the mouth problem ages ago when I was starting portraits and I took the advice :)

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  4. His expression is great, John!

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  5. Very wonderful and expressive portrait !!!

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  6. Where's the Locomotive series John? ;0)
    I've been to Wales and Austria, so I know what you mean... They do have a similar feel... Meanwhile, I'm liking your mono portrait. I'm looking forward to seeing how it evolves! :0)

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    1. You little divil :)

      Love your new blog ... with time-delay videos .... so professional. It does credit to your wonderful paintings

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  7. I love this unfinished style...more alive,less formal...true. A big development of your art,my dear John. Congratulations for your great willing to improve your art skill day after day!!!

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