Elisabeth Vigee - Lebrune

Finished Portrait

Elisabeth Vigee - Lebrune

Well it has been two months since my last post. Graduations, moving, family events were at an all time energy. I just did not have the time. I really felt guilty and missed posting.

Today I am posting a self portrait by Elisabeth Vigee- Lebrune. 1755-1842. I am fascinated by self portraits! This artist was particularly successful and painted Queen Marie Antoinette over 13 times. He bio is amazing for her time. She was self reliant , strong and had a lot of talent. For a summer project I thought I would work on her. Here is a picture of the the start of the painting. I first primed the canvas with gesso and marble dust, just like the old masters did. Then I did a charcoal drawing of the piece. It is now ready for the underpainting in chromium oxide green white and black. I post that image when I finish that stage.

Portrait for the Mabopane Foundation

oil 16x20

This painting was done for the Foundation. It will be sent to the orphanage in South Africa.

I really had fun with this painting. I hope the kids like it!

The Mabopane Foundation, Inc. is a

Raleigh based non-profit organization that provides life assistance to the underprivileged children of Mabopane, South Africa. Due to the prevalent disease and poverty of this area, most of these children were left to fend for themselves in the dumps and landfills around Mabopane, until rescued by a local charity, which we support.

The Orton Effect

Vase of Lillies and A Day at the Beach 

photography using the Orton Effect.

I love this effect on photos it adds a dreamy quality to a photo and it really inspires me to want to paint the subject. Give it a try below are the directions.

1. Open your image

2. Duplicate the background layer right click on the background layer and choose duplicate and name that layer sharp.

3. Create another duplicate of the background layer

4. Change the Blending mode of the sharp copy to screen

5. With the sharp copy layer selected right click and choose merge down image 2

6. Right click on the sharp layer choose duplicate and name this layer out of focus

7. On the filter menue choose blur - gaussian blur image 3

8. Change the blending mode of the out of focus layer to multiply image 4

Stormy Sky

oil 2.5 x 3.5 ACEO $12.00 avaiable in my e bay store

I was particularly happy with this one.

Changing Skys I II III

Changing Skies oil 3 @ 2.5x3.5 avaiable in my E Bay Store

Here is a series I did of changing skys from the same location.  These are oils called ACEO's which stands for ( art card editions and originals) they are each the standard 2.5 x 3.5 in size.

I sell them on e bay. I like doing them as warm ups or I can paint them when I don't have a lot of time.

Thank You Olga Wagner for passing on the Passion for Painting blog award. I was stunned to see this award! Olga you made my day. Recipients are asked to list seven things they love, then tag seven more painters which I admire.

The seven things I love.

1. My Family all of them, this includes pets

2. Painting of course

3. The Ocean

4. The Moutains

5. The  Forests

6. Children

7. Gardening

The Seven Artists I Admire

1.Margret Mayer Art

2.Debbie Miller

3.Robin Cheers

4.Carol Feldman

5.David Lobenberg

6.Kim Roberti

7.Quiang Huang

Artists If you choose to accept this award please list seven things You love. and list seven artists you admire. Thanks and  Happy Blogging!