More "Phoebe"

I'm making good progress on the finishing pass for "Phoebe" oil on linen panel, 9"x12". I'm finding a lot more color in her skin tones now, so I'm breaking out the cad orange, and alizarin crimson. She's on vacation in Jamaica so hopefully she won't come back with too dark of a tan or I'll have to go by what's already painted.

My First Commission

A friend of mine recently asked me to do a painting for his wife on the theme of movies and plays. She had seen a painting of mine from a while back that featured two black masks and she wanted something along those lines. Even though most of the painting fits the wifes interests I did manage to sneak in my friends love of home improvement projects by using a piece of plywood as a base and sheetrock in the background. The pic below shows the underpainting stage in development. "Attributes of Drama" oil on panel, 12"x16"

More "Phoebe", and progress on a new still life

"Phoebe" oil on panel, 9"x12", in progress, "Cherry Tomatoes, and Books" oil on panel, 9"x12". I'm making good progress on the portrait. I started off with a raw umber underpainting over which I painted a color wash underpainting. Today I spent about three hours putting a finishing pass on the eyes. The still life is a new small painting, 9"x12", which I'm painting using daylight. It's taking a little getting used to but I'm enjoying the process.

More "Phoebe" (color wash underpainting)

I've just finished another 3 hour session with Phoebe. This is still the underpainting stage, so I'm not going to hit the mark exactly where I want, but I'm trying to get as close as I can with thinned down paint. I'm using Liquin on oil primed linen glued to a Masonite panel. Even though it might appear as though I'm going really slow, I actually feel like I'm going too fast and I keep admonishing myself to SLOW DOWN!

New Portrait

This is the study and beginning color wash underpainting for "Phoebe" oil on panel, 9"x12". I usually make my studies a bit more poster like ala Tony Ryder, but I decided to do a bit more modeling. It gives me a chance to dress rehearse the large form modeling on a small scale. In the larger version I'm slowly crawling over the forms using paint thinned with Liquin. Once this is complete I'll begin my finishing pass. I'm really enjoying painting Phoebe she reminds me of one of Sargents models!

I'm Back!

I finally got a new computer that allows me back onto BlogSpot.(although I keep getting these weird messages, I might have to download google chrome) I've missed posting here so once I get my photos up and running I'll start posting process shots, etc:

Last post for now

Unfortunately, google has decided to update blogspot so that my browser can no longer work. I do not wish to update my browser and therefore I will now be posting my process shots and tips at my own websites blog www.Shawnsullivanpaintings.com  click on "Rants and Raves"