Portrait Special!!

I will be offering a watercolor portrait special starting now, and it will be good until May 12th, 2013!  Mother's Day!  Just email me your pictures and we will get in touch to discuss your desires and the process!  

I can work locally as well as through email, and mail!  Give me a shout!

Thanks, 

New Painting!

Good morning!  I hope everyone is ready for another week!  I plan to do a lot of painting this week, so get ready! :)

Here is one I started yesterday.. a new fly fisher.. 

I think I have a pretty great chance of finishing this today!

Have a wonderful Monday everyone!

Isabella, Finisheo!

Here is the finished portrait of my daughter Isabella (Bella).  I really enjoyed painting her sweet little face.  

 Originally I was intimidated by her dress and the details of it, but once I just relaxed and started filling it in, I started to love it! :)

 

While this portrait does not imitate the original photograph exactly, I feel like my little girl was captured.  Her sweet beauty!

Have a great night!

 

It's all in the eyes...

Good Morning!  I hope everyone is having a wonderful Saturday morning!  I worked quite a bit on Isabella's portrait last night and got pretty far.  I should have her finished this weekend!  

Here is my process from last night.

Okay, it's all in the eyes right?  Here is how I paint eyes in my portraits.

 First I started with a very light wash of Ultramarine Blue.  I added super watered down Payne's Grey mixed with Ultramarine Blue.  I then mixed up a dark blend of the two colors with Payne's Grey as the dominating color.  This is what I used to outline the main part of the iris.  

 Next I added the lashes.. and tiny little pupils..

I started to layer in her lips and add more detail to her nose..

 

Now I have gone and darkened shadows and color in her face, as well as her neck.  I have also started the hair, using colors and shades of gold tinted with with a hint of violet.  I feel like Violet tones done the golden color a bit.  I also darkened the arms with another layer.

It's amazing how quickly this portrait starts to come together as soon as you add the eyes.  And a mouth and a nose :) :)

Have a wonderful day!!

 

Isabella's Portrait Update

TGIF!

I hope you all are having a fabulous start to your Friday!  I have had a great morning and I'm all geared up to go full speed ahead with this portrait today!  To see the picture and where I started with this click here.

Here I am just showing my process of layering.. 

First, I start with my cool pinks (a light wash in Crimson Red) in the face and neck.. Then I quickly move onto my yellows (watered down Cadmium Yellow) to bring out the glowing spots and the warmer toned part of the skin.  I let this layer dry, and then proceed to my warm reds, which I love to use (Brilliant Red with a touch of Cadmium Yellow).  After this layer is dry, I darken my shadows with wet washes of blue (Ultramarine Blue with a touch of Crimson Red and Burnt Umber).  You have to be super careful with this step as the blues really tend to stain the paper and there is little grace when trying to lift it.  So be sure that the paper is very wet and workable, and be ready to lift the paint quickly if necessary!

Next I start to layer in the arms.  I figure I may as well, since I'm already working with these same colors for the face and neck.  As you can see, I tend to start with brighter colors.  I do it this way because it is really easy to muddy a watercolor and once it happens, there's not too much you can do to brighten it back up.  So starting with the bright colors will allow me to go back later and soften once I've had time to really look at it.

Here I have started to layer in her dress.. I have to admit.. I'm not too excited about painting the floral design on this dress.. Wish me luck! :)

Here, you will notice that I have done a few things to the background.  I really love a neat textured background but still blurred as you would see in a nice photograph.. So I simply swirl my wet paint brush in a small circular motion to form these glowing blurred dots.  I then can add a brighter yellow, or green to make that background pop again!  Kind of a fun technique :)

I will post some more tips and techniques later today as work on her.

Your comments and questions are ALWAYS welcome!

Thank you!

 

Creative Block.. Coming Back!

Hello Friends!

I would love to first off say thank you for friendship and all your lovely comments!  I really enjoy the encouragement you give to me and also any helpful suggestions when needed.  Lately I've found myself in a creative slump to put it nicely.  I just get so down when this happens because it just feels so unnatural.  I believe that I was born to be creative!  Born to draw!  Born to paint!  That's the spirit! :)

So here's to breaking the dam that has kept and contained any creative thoughts, brush strokes, and frankly anything enjoyable locked away in a gloomy lake!  I could knock it down piece by piece, but I think I'm taking some dynamite to it!  Get it all in one sweep! Let the creative river flow and flood my brain to the point of utter exhaustion from too many ideas!!  

LOL!  Okay, you're probably all thinking.. this chic has LOST it!  I haven't.. I promise!  Just got a little carried away there. :)

So here is one piece that has been interfering with my creative flow.  I started out really loving this piece, and don't get me wrong, I still do.  But I've been staring at this unfinished piece for over a year now.  I know what you must be thinking.. "Then just get it done!"  Well, easier said than done.  And all you artists out there know what I'm talking about.  I am so close to being finished with this one, but I'm not making any promises this time, sense that seems to put too much pressure on me.

So to every problem you find a solution right?  So here is my solution.  I LOVE painting portraits, particularly my little girls :)  So I've started a second portrait of my nine year old daughter Isabella.  I took this photograph last spring, and have been dieing to paint it ever since!

I did make a change to this portrait.  There was just something about the way her hand was cut off in the photo, so I laid her arm across her lap instead.

I am expecting to move quickly through this one, so stay tuned! 

Have a wonderful Thursday!

Sailboats

Just working away on my sailboats... It's coming together... slowly..... very... very... slowly... :) :)

Medical Illustrations Commission Completed!

Yeah!  I'm finished!  This was an interesting commission to say the least.  It was a bit out of my comfort zone, but I'm so glad I did it!  These are going on a Medical Poster.  I will post that when it's completed.. I have no idea what the time frame is on that.  Hope you are all having a wonderful Tuesday!

Jen

Two More Finished!

Blocked Airway, Completed.

The aftermath of grinding your teeth and clinching, referred to as Bruxism!!  Completed.


Jen

New Blog!

Hello all my fellow blog friends!  Happy Martin Luther King Day!

   I just wanted to announce that I started a new blog!  It's a place that will reflect my lifestyle, dreams, and cravings! 

Some of my posts will include:

Home Decor

Recipes

DIY Projects

Family Fun

My Artwork/Paintings

I just love to see all of these cozy little blogs out there, so why not have one too?  I will definitely still have this one as well, so don't leave me! :)  Come on over and check out my new addition at www.rustiquerestoration.blogspot.com.

  

Blocked Airway, Not Yet Completed

Blocked Airway

This is an illustration of an airway blocked by the tongue falling to the back of the throat.  The air comes through the nasal cavity and is stopped by the blockage, forcing it to head right back out.  This keeps you from getting a full breath of much needed air.  There is my health tip of the day! :-)  This painting still needs some tweaking however.. So stay tuned!

Blocked Airway, WIP.

Blocked Airway

I am still working on this one, but thought I would post an update of the current illustration!  This is actually kind of fun!!

Woman with Jaw Pain...

Woman with Jaw Pain

Woman Sleeping...

Woman Sleeping..

Finisheo!

Medical Ilustrations

 Woman Sleeping Peacefully..

Tongue Scalloping

These are both still a work in progress.. And I have five others I am working on as well.. I will post another update soon!  ~Jen

Portraits 2012

Hey Friends!  I have been so busy with the holidays and my baby girl, well, not so much a baby anymore just turned NINE!!  Such a milestone for me.. I honestly don't know where the years have flown to.  We have had a wonderful nine years, and I so look forward to the next nine!  That said, I have had zero time to paint and post!  So please excuse my long absence :)  I promise 2013 has so much coming!!  

I have a project I'm starting this next week.  I have been commissioned to draw/paint 6 small medical illustrations.  So get ready to see me out of my comfort zone...  I am excited to start these!!

I also plan to paint some western, wildlife, and maybe (MAYBE) some Native American paintings.  I do live in the Northwest after all :) 

Well, to finish off my post, I thought I would just share all of the portraits I painted over 2012.  Mostly people, some animals.  

~Have a great weekend~

Here's to the New Year!  I can't wait to see what 2013 will bring! 

Self Portrait

 

I just started this self portait sketch.. I have never done pencil portraits, so I am kind of excited to see how I like it!  I am always just blown away by a fellow artist/friend, Michael Silverstone, and thought I would play with it a little!  Another update to follow soon!  Thank you!

 

 

~ Jen ~

Marina Update

Here is the latest update on the McCall Marina..

 

I have been so swamped with commissions (not that I'm complaining!!), so I haven't had the time to work on this one.  A few days of dedication should wrap this one up!



Trout Update

Layering in some washes on the trout, and the sleeves..



New Trout Painting!

 

I just started this trout painting last night!

 

 

I got pretty far on it last night considering I only had about an hour and a half to work on it!  I was going to suprise my hubby for Christmas, but couldn't keep it a secret.  I am terrible with gifts!  Stay tuned for an update later and have a great day!

~A Wedding at Elliston Vineyards~

My client had me frame the portrait for him.. I found this frame to be elegant and timeless.

 



 

A Wedding at Elliston Vinyards

Watercolor

16 x 22

 

 

The wedding date and their initials! 

 

This honestly was such a thoughtful gift from husband to wife for their 15th anniversary.  I can't wait to hear about the presentation of it!  Thanks for reading!

 

 

                 ~ Jen