Elizabeth Taft Portraits

2010-07-08T07:34:00.001-07:00

I just finished watching a video by Daniel Gerhartz--and used his pallette. Amazing , he uses black to mix the wonderful red colors, and prussian green, or blue--few colors, and such juicy mixtures. So I give him some of the credit for the wonderful mauves and golds in her hair.

The Red Bandana

2010-07-08T07:26:00.001-07:00

I love how the light illuminates her blue eyes. She is a remarkable model.

princess

2010-03-08T13:10:00.001-08:00

2010-03-08T12:54:00.001-08:00

Well these are the paintings I did when I took the class from Alicia Sotherland, pastel portrait artist. I fell in love with the technique and the softness of the skin tones,and with Alicia's demonstrations on how to eliminate hard edges--and pull the whole painting together. Heard it all before, but like many things--it seemed to finally stick.

2010-03-08T12:50:00.001-08:00

My oldest grandson sam, about 5 years old? I took a couple days of a class with pastel artist alicia Sotherland, and this oil painting is beginning to show me how it is possible to cross over from the softness of pastel to oil.

A Young Boy

2010-03-08T12:21:00.001-08:00

He was a son of one of the painters in our class, thought he did pretty well with all of us staring at him. That precious age, just before puberty really jumps in is kind of catching the last innocence. But as you can see he was pretty bored.

More at the show

2010-02-15T08:17:00.000-08:00

MY PORTRAIT SHOW

2010-02-15T08:14:00.001-08:00

The two landscapes on the nearest wall are also min, and the portrait show fills the last part of the gallery. Turned out pretty good. I didnt have a party, just didnt want to, but the show looks good, and I just wanted to get the work out locally, : I can paint portraits , too.

2010-02-04T12:33:00.001-08:00

February 4 2010

Well I have a show going on in my gallery in Fallbrook,the Brandon Gallery.www.Fallbrookbrandongallery.org--am going in to take pictures of the walls and will add that to this blog soon. I am having a semi breakdown, it has been such a busy couple weeks, I am so happy to just sit here and read mail and work on the blog--actually moving to the car seems a major endeavor.

Elizabeth Taft Portraits: Piggyback

2010-02-04T12:28:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth Taft Portraits: Piggyback

The Boxer

2010-01-16T09:01:00.001-08:00

This portrait was started in a portrait class with a live model. Doesn't he look serious about his sport? Well in actuality, he is a member of the group, a sincerely wonderful guy, who brings his aged mom to the class every week, and takes extreme care of her , and paints too.

The Hair Braider

2010-01-16T08:55:00.000-08:00

A couple years ago I went on a painting trip to Italy with some painter friends. We painted nonstop all day, and in the evening, we had time on our hands waiting for the 8:00 dinner hour. My dear friend Leslie got it into her head to do everyone's hair--I loved the composition and the negative shapes in the photo-and added some colors and shapes of my own. the window in the back wasnt there, but I felt I needed a bright shape to show the light on the hair and arm. This painting is in gouache, and was accepted into the 2009 San Diego Watercolor Society International exhibit.

A portrait doesn't have to always be a face, but it could be a moment--

Sasha

2009-10-20T08:37:00.000-07:00

In Encinitas, Ca. there is a wonderful school called Watts Attelier, run by Jeff Watts. One of their great models is Sasha, and I have painted her many times. This time, she was posing for another class and I grabbed a quick picture--when she wasnt really posing, --we are losing her I understand, she is almost finished with Nursing school and will be to busy to model, but what a jewel she has been.
I won third place in the San Diego Portrait Society 2010 with this painting.

She caught my eye

2009-10-20T08:31:00.000-07:00

This little girl caught my eye while visiting The Wild Animal Park in Escondido, Ca. Just a perfect expression and light. Always have my camera on hand,and sometimes there is a gem right there. I did ask her permission to take her picture, and luckily she didnt do a big smile for me.

Beatric

2009-09-24T13:34:00.000-07:00

I won two awards with this portrait of my great neice, Beatric. The most important was being a December finalist in the Raymar competition. The other was a place in a La Jolla Art Association show. Raymart art has a monthly competition, but you have to use their art boards--this is difficult, since I really don't care for them--but I use them anyway, paint alot of Gesso on , and paint away. Then of course you have to remember to enter.... lots of wonderful artwork on that site.

Watching tv

2009-09-24T13:21:00.000-07:00

Some of the best moments are caught when the subjects are watching tv. This type of solution brought attention to the two faces above all else. The colors of the shirts blended in value and the warm colors in the background accentuate Sammy's face and your eyes just move up and then back to the hands.

2009-09-24T13:15:00.000-07:00

It was amazing to find a photo of Adyn that didnt have movement or moods or whatever a 21/2 year old does. But I did, of course the bib wasnt the best choice for portrait clothing, but having no other choice. He was sitting near a window and that allowed me to choose the cool lights for that side of the face, and warm shadows. That is my preference. Portraits under indoor lighting just don't have the shadow shapes that the outdoor light affords.

Elfish Grin

2009-09-17T14:02:00.000-07:00

The green hat makes him look like a leprechaun -but it is my son Matt with his Christmas gifts on--hat and scarf. Capturing that elfish grin and twinkling eyes we have come to know so well--well I must have had help from the wee folks themselves.

Two Great Guys

2009-09-17T13:56:00.000-07:00

This is my most recent portrait commision of two great guys-they found me in The Art Collector , a very good publication for collectors-and emailed me. What fun. It was done entirely from a photo and as it is difficult to get the correct lighting with a photo, I had to use my imagination a little.