The Beauty of the Human Face: A Captivating Tapestry of Expression

The human face is a remarkable canvas that showcases the intricacies of emotion, identity, and individuality. Its beauty lies not only in its physical features but also in the wealth of expression it can convey. From the sparkling eyes that shimmer with joy to the gentle curve of a smile that radiates warmth, the human face is a tapestry of emotions and stories waiting to be explored.

Each face carries a unique story, reflecting a person's journey, experiences, and personality. It is a window into their soul, revealing their hopes, dreams, and vulnerabilities. The face holds the power to captivate us, drawing us in with its raw authenticity and connecting us on a deeply human level.

The beauty of the human face lies not in its adherence to conventional standards but in its diversity. Every face, regardless of age, gender, or cultural background, possesses its own allure and charm. It is through this diversity that we celebrate the richness of human existence.

Faces are also symbolic of our interconnectedness as a species. They are a universal language, transcending barriers and fostering empathy and understanding. In their subtleties and nuances, faces create a tapestry of emotions that bind us together in our shared human experience.

As we navigate life, we should embrace the beauty of the human face. Let us appreciate the lines etched by laughter, the wisdom carved by time, and the uniqueness that sets each face apart. By cherishing the beauty of the human face, we honor the stories it tells and the connections it fosters, ultimately celebrating the incredible diversity and wonder of humanity.

Murphy and Linda's Portrait

Murphy is a kind, easy going guy. I met with him several times at coffee shops as we inspired each other to come up with a portrait that would represent a journey together for him and his wife. The couple have been married since their youth, and they have always had pets that were a part of the family. So it was decided to incorporate of few of these little guys into the image. Typically a portrait will have a much more simplistic background but this painting needed to be more than just their images, it was to represent their story of togetherness.

This was always one of their favorite pictures, so the plan was to make it the central theme of the portrait.

After the painting was about halfway completed, Camille made the decision to use a different photo for Linda because this photograph was challenging to work with, especially when it came to the “details” (they say that the devil can be in the details, yep…art joke)

here are a few images of the progression

drawing and underpainting stage

Putting on a new face

The underpainting helps in determining the values needed in each area.

After spending an enormous amount of time on their portrait, our home caught fire. I waited outdoors for the firemen to arrive. Our entire street was filled with white smoke. Our neighbor said it was so thick she couldn’t see across the street. Several fire trucks came, a few police cars, and the paramedics. You know what they say “if your home was to catch on fire, what would you run in to get?” Yep, I actually had that thought. “MURPHY’S PAINTING!” Then in I ran, but I didn’t have to run through fire, just plenty of smoke. I darted up the stairs when I heard a fireman shout at me. “What do you think you are doing?” I shouted back “I’m trying to save something”. He then yelled out “get out NOW!” So I left (after getting the painting to a safe place.)

Our son and daughter-inlove we so kind to take us in to stay with them while we transitioned into a rental house. I had a makeshift studio in their sunroom. When my grand-darling would get home from daycare, she’d sit on my lap and pretend to paint. (Her brushes did not have paint 😁)

Because of hurricane Ida, the fire and the first and few other hurdles I had to cross…this portrait took longer than usual to deliver to Murphy, but he was graciously patient with me.

I have a video that shows the progression here from beginning to end:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmjJiTXtMsc&t=22s

Hope you enjoy!

A gift from the heart

I was contacted about creating a very special Christmas gift from Angela to her boyfriend. This famous New Orleans store is on Canal Street, Rubensteins. Canal street has been a hub for shops and markets for over a hundred years. Angel’s boyfriend buys his suits there, as his father did and his grandfather. It’s now a family tradition.

This was a very customized painting, adding in his porsche, a street car & many Christmas decorations.

Progression shown of custom oil painting.

Creating a custom piece

When someone request a custom piece of artwork, they usually already have an idea in their mind. The artist job is to bring that vision into reality.

For this painting, the art patron, Bonnie, wanted an eagle soaring.  I had her send me a picture of the wall she was needing the the artwork to hang on.  

The first part of the process was for me to send Bonnie some conceptual designs for her to get an idea of what was in my head.

Conceptual designs of painting:

View fullsize

We had to determine the exact size the painting needed to be. Painters tape was placed in the area, then measurements were taken.

It was decided to go with the center image.  She requested some "semi-abstract" (I think that's pretty funny).  The eagle was more realistic while the background had texture, gold leaf and some abstract components.

A large wooden panel as constructed for the artwork.

Images of the process:

drawing

underpainting

tape and texture

begin detailed work on the eagle

Painting the sky.

Detailed image of the sky:

Here is a photo of the finished painting, hung in here home: