My Fine Art Portraits
I have been drawing and painting portraits and figures for over 30 years, and my body of art now includes a huge variety of contemporary fine art portraits of women and men. My portraits include realistic portraits and expressionist portrait drawings in colored pencil, pastel, graphite, and charcoal; colorful abstract portrait paintings with bold line and color; and playful portraits embedded in collages of decorative patterns.
My portraits always begin with live models, although the final portrait drawing, painting, or collage may be realistic, impressionist, expressionist, humorous, or abstract. Whether attracted by color, form, movement, or expression, for my portraits I like to use media that are swift and sensual, and work quickly to capture the model. This spontaneous portrayal may complete the portrait, or I may work the portrait into a complex composition, often playful, energized with pattern and collage.
Unlike many artists trained in the latter half of the 20th century, I believe that technical skills such as draftsmanship are important, and have worked hard to expand my abilities and media. I studied portrait and figure drawing for many years, and I studied calligraphy in Japan to add a new and different facet to my work. I have always worked seriously--and simultaneously--with many media, subjects, and styles. The inspiration for my portraits and other figure art comes from realists like Michelangelo, as well as from masters of sensuality like Gauguin, Klimt, Matisse, Degas, and Van Gogh. I also take ideas from traditional arts from around the world and contemporary decorative arts.
Ultimately my portraits reflect my artistic interest in line, color, texture, composition, and expression. Although I try to capture the physical or expressive qualities of the model, I have only a passing interest in recreating a likeness of the sitter. This is what differentiates my fine art portraits from commercial commissioned likenesses.
|
