I invite you to peek into my studio again even though this continues to be a difficult week to focus on art. I was able to turn some of the sorrow of losing my older brother into painting a tribute portrait of him to present to his wife. I also finished up my latest “Wine, Women, and Song” mixed media and laid the groundwork for starting another when I get back from the funeral. Most likely, I won’t post again until a few weeks from now as I will be traveling, and pretty sure painting is not on the agenda.
Tribute Portrait of My Brother
Feeling out of sorts, and not sure what to do with myself, I spent several days crying on and off and feeling no motivation whatsoever. I finally decided to turn that pain into paint and started a portrait of my brother to present as a gift to his wife.
I found a fairly recent picture of him taken when he visited us, and we took a train ride along the Pend Oreille River in Washington state. I liked the expression on his face. He looks inquisitive and that’s an apt description of his character.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="780" height="1024" src="https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_0221-2-780x1024.jpg" alt="Photo of the author's brother" class="wp-image-6858" style="width:600px" srcset="https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_0221-2-780x1024.jpg 780w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_0221-2-229x300.jpg 229w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_0221-2-768x1008.jpg 768w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_0221-2.jpg 884w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" />
I started with my usual process of laying in acrylic washes and then sketching the portrait with a charcoal stick. I then laid in the shadows using a blend of cadmium orange and viridian green. I progressed to the midtones using oil paint.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="2560" src="https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3230-scaled.jpg" alt="First draft portrait of the author's brother" class="wp-image-6859" style="width:600px" srcset="https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3230-scaled.jpg 1920w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3230-225x300.jpg 225w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3230-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3230-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3230-1536x2048.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" />
I finished up the portrait with highlights and more detail. It was somewhat cathartic to paint this portrait. I felt like he was with me the whole time. I will miss him.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1962" height="2560" src="https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3232-scaled.jpg" alt="Finished portrait of the author's brother " class="wp-image-6860" style="width:600px" srcset="https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3232-scaled.jpg 1962w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3232-230x300.jpg 230w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3232-785x1024.jpg 785w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3232-768x1002.jpg 768w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3232-1177x1536.jpg 1177w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3232-1569x2048.jpg 1569w" sizes="(max-width: 1962px) 100vw, 1962px" />
Finishing Up
I did more work on the mixed media painting I’m titling “Not Dead Yet!” I defined the wine glass that had appeared within the background while I was painting. I added the hummingbird stencil to keep with the theme of “Wine, Women, and Song.”
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1921" height="2560" src="https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3231-scaled.jpg" alt="Mixed media painting of a fashionable older woman raising a glass of wine. " class="wp-image-6861" style="width:600px" srcset="https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3231-scaled.jpg 1921w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3231-225x300.jpg 225w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3231-768x1023.jpg 768w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3231-1153x1536.jpg 1153w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3231-1537x2048.jpg 1537w" sizes="(max-width: 1921px) 100vw, 1921px" />
I then submitted the painting to the Mastery Program coaches for feedback. They both suggested I remove the wine glass on the left side of the painting. I had rather liked that glass as it appeared to me out of nowhere when I was painting. They also suggested working more on the hand.
I took their advice and edited out the wine goblet. I added another hummingbird where the glass had been to hopefully unify this area, so it didn’t look so much like an afterthought. I did more work on refining her hand and painted her nails to match her lips. One of the coaches suggested I tone down the darks in her neck. I haven’t taken this step, but what do you think so far?
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="2560" src="https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3234-scaled.jpg" alt="Mixed media painting of a fashionable older woman raising a glass of wine. " class="wp-image-6862" style="width:600px" srcset="https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3234-scaled.jpg 1920w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3234-225x300.jpg 225w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3234-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3234-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3234-1536x2048.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" />
Takeaways
Art can be cathartic and healing. I have always said this but put it into practice with my brother’s passing. My sister-in-law asked me to do the eulogy at my brother’s service. I hope I can pull it off and convey the message of who he was as a person not only to our family but to the community.
Most likely it will be a few weeks before I’m able to get back in the studio, but thank you for continuing to follow my art journey and hopefully it brings inspiration.
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