2011 Self Portrait

I've decided to set myself the challenge of doing at least one self portrait a year. For one as a model, I'm free to hire and can't complain about the sitter not sitting still!

Rembrandt was famous for his self portraits- probably more-so than any other artist. What he left was a series of work that not only charts his progress as an artist, but also his progress through life as you gradually see him ageing and in various moods as life throws things at him.

http://www.rembrandtpainting.net/rembrandt_self_portraits.htm

check it out

Any way here's my effort! A rather quick one at about 2hrs



Self portrait 2011
Pastel on Sennelier card
8x10 inches

Forbidden fruit

Forbidden Fruit

16x16 inches

Mixed media on board

The next in my new style that is developing at the moment. Am really enjoying being able to get a bit of a narrative going in the paintings. The aim is to engage the viewer to think about what is going on.

The ability to add lots of layering allows for me to include elements at the collage stage that add to the story of the painting. I like how the simple composition and colours can initially attract the eye. As you get closer you notice the variety of texturing throughout giving another layer of interest. When you get right up to it you can begin to see through the transparent layers to the collage element.

Off to start the next one!

Ryan

Getting to know you

Getting to know you

15x15 inches

Mixed media on board

Continuing my series of mixed media contemporary figurative work that I started with 'Reserved for you' and 'Bond with a blond', here is the next work.

This one took a little longer to do until I was happy that I had got down my original concept. Its certainly tricky to do this compared to working in a representational way from life or photo (where your reference is right in front of you). An imagined image- even with preparatory sketches and colour studies- always changes.

It's weird that the images look simplistic and naive
(deliberately!), but the work invovled to do this as an adult is so tough!!
Picasso put this really well when he said, "It took me four years to learn to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child."

The way I've been working with the mixed media is controlled but intuitive so I don't always know how an image or effect will turn out or fit in with the overall piece. I was unhappy with the walls originally as I wanted a different textural effect. My original attempt with collage, inks and acrylic were too powerful and made the overall image look messy. I had some collage work there that added text elements that were relevant to the narrative of the painting- I realised I was being too precious about it and it was restricting my processes. My eureka moment was adding oil pastel over this. I did this in layers of subtle colours till a had a fairly thick layer then used a damp cloth to gently rub areas- this blended the oil pastel a little but also gives a nice waxy finish as a texture (a happy accident discovering this!!)

Ryan

Keya

Keya

Oil on canvas

14x18 inches

Here's a portrait that I've just finished. Painted using classical glazing techniques to build up layers of colour

This is a portrait swap with another artist so looking forward to seeing her portrait of me.

Ryan

House painting commission

Hillswick

Acrylic and mixed media on canvas

80 x 60 cms

Here's a recent house painting I did for a friend last month.

Ryan

Mairen portrait study

Mairen

10x12 inches

Pencil on paper

A portrait study working on my drawing . Tried to keep to a classical drawing technique of hatching here without any smudging. All done free-hand but took time -about 3-4 hours

Ryan

This weeks life class

Female figure sleeping pose

Pastel on Sennelier pastel card

10x12 inches

This was the sketch from the long pose (about one hour 30mins). It was a bit of a struggle as the model moved her arm and shoulder position quite considerably at half time. Its part of the challenge of life drawing/painting that you are painting a living 3d thing that i not static. I had to totally re-do that section !

I forgot to post the week before's work too! again it was a toughy with a lot of fore-shortening to deal with

Male model prone position

Pastel on Sennelier pastel card

12x12inches

About one and a half hours again

Ryan

National Galleries of Scotland − Support Us − All Portraits

National Galleries of Scotland − Support Us − All Portraits

Click the link about to see how you can help Scotland's National Portrait Gallery complete its fundraising for its major re-vamp due to be completed next year.

The Portrait of the Nation is going to be fantastic!

New life drawing / painting group

I managed to find a new drop-in untutored life drawing/painting group. Its really good to do a class untutored as I can work in whatever media I want and try to develop some of the techniques and ideas I got from Leith School of Art. It's a 3 hour class with an hour of quick sketches followed by a longer pose for the remainder of the time (about an hour and a half after breaks).




Here's what I got done for the longer pose

Model with red chair and reflection

Soft pastel on Sennelier pastel card

8x12inches

Eyemouth- plein air

Here's a great spot I found a couple of weeks ago down at Eyemouth- about 45mins from Edinburgh. I had a day off and the sun was shining so I decided to head down the coast for some plein air painting.

Cliffs at Eyemouth (sketch)

Oil on board
8x10 inches

Here's where I got to after about an hour and a half- though by this stage the light was really starting to change as it was hitting the cliffs. Since this was the main focus of the painting, I decided to call it a day. It's just a sketch, but something I could use for a studio painting.

Ryan

Richard

Richard

Pastel on Sennelier pastel card

12x15 inches

Another portrait using pastels and the sennelier card that is great for building up layers of pastel

Ryan

Bond with a blonde

Bond with a blonde

Mixed media on board

15 x15 inches

Continuing the stlye I experimented with 'Reserved for you', this one is based on a certain gentleman spy!
Had fun with the texture and collage elements in this- managed to get the Aston Martin in too!

Was aiming to keep the colour harmoniuos and make an interesting composition. The texture uses acrylic mediums (texture paste and glass bead gel) and collage.

Ryan

Reserved for you

Reserved for you

Mixed media

15x15 inches

Last term at Leith School of Art we used a good variety of media and worked hard at loosening up style and application. I've been inspired to try to develop my style a little away from purely representational work. This has been inspired from Henry Moore's drawings and sculptures and a Scottish artist I like called Jonathan Hood.

I'm hoping to use the semi-abstract and mixed media approach to my Landscape painting as I'd become a bit frustrated with the genre.

New studio- new work!

Haven't posted in a while as I've been settling into my new place and finally getting organised!

I went to the National Gallery of Scotland and did some sketching of their bronze and marble sculptures. One really caught my eye called Arritino- here's my sketch

I really liked the pose and the way the figure was looking up into the light. I got home and worked this study up in charcoal and conte crayon

This is quite small at 8x8 inches- think I might work up a bigger study or jump straight into an oil painting

Ryan

Welcome

Welcome

Linocut print

4x7 inches

My second attempt at linocut printing. Getting a bit more confident at this as it was quite challenging to get some of the detailled bits. Did an edition of 25 which was tough work without a press- as each one has to be hand printed using the back of a spoon to burnish the image!

On another note I got my portrait painting from Julie Mardell- I'm really pleased with it she's done a great job. The portrait swap was great fun- I'll definitely do another one. Anyway here is the painting!

Ryan - by Julie Mardell

8x12inches

Oil on canvas

2010!! Happy New Year

Cast shadows

Soft pastel on Sennelier pastel card

8x10 inches

The first post of 2010! Another portrait that excited me due to the strong light and cast shadows.

This was the first time I used the Sennelier pastel card. Its more expensive than the Murano paper I normally use with pastels. The card has a grain on it that resembles sandpaper (but is easier on the fingers) and is really good for adding layers of pastel. I managed to build up a fairly thick pastel layer without feeling the tooth of the paper was clogged up- this sometimes happens with the Murano paper.

Ryan

Jools

Jools

Acrylic on canvas

16x16 inches

A portrait I've just finished of a fellow artist that I've done as part of a portrait exchange. Its such a good idea! Jools is working on her portrait of me so will be great to see. She's a fabulous portrait artist so I'll be in good hands.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Heading for home

Heading for Home
Pastel on paper
8x12 inches

A local scene that I've worked up in the studio from a plein air sketch. Added the surfers from a reference photo taken on the same day.

This was a nice day- bit windy as I recall!!

Ryan

Morning light at Bass rock

Morning light at Bass rock

Pastel on paper

12x8 inches

I realised how long it was since I posted a landscape! I've been focussing mostly on figurative/portraiture work for the last year or so and have neglected landscapes

Better late than never! Here's one of my favourite muses, the Bass Rock. This was worked up in the studio from a plein air sketch I did a while back. I really liked the soft light that I saw that day- nice violets and peach/yellows.

Ryan

Roland

Roland

Acrylic on canvas

16x20 inches

I'm really working hard on my portraiture at the moment. Feel like I'm getting better and more confident with each one, so I'm happy to be progressing.

When it comes to portraits I'm a huge fan of Lucien Freud, Sir Henry Raeburn and John Singer Sergeant's style and I guess this stylistically guides my portraits (still a long way to reach their standards, but you've got to aim high!!)

2nd year at Leith School of Art is in full flow, so being kept busy with that.