Latest portrait in between the portrait project

Having only small windows of time to paint, I'm doing some smaller looser portraits. Here's the latest of Sandra Mazuera called "The Black Hat."

What inspired me to be a portrait painter? My mothers.

When I was 4, my mother framed a portrait I did. She said it was the loveliest thing she ever saw. For years, it was on the wall for all to see and I felt special. I felt proud. My love for portraits began. When I was 26, I met my future mother and law, a portrait painter as well. We got along well and her paintings inspired me. Her work awakened the portrait painter in me.

Unfortunately, neither was able to see me now, painting and living the dream. Robbed of their lives too soon, both would have been supportive during the times I doubt myself. It would have been really cool to have them around. What fun we would have had.

Although I get sad from time to time about what could have been, I don't linger there too long. What I focus on is the profound influence these two moms had on my life knowing that wherever they are, they are watching over me.

So I paint from the heart just like I did when I created this portrait when I was 4 which I still have.

Learning is a lifetime process

I love to learn and that's what I'm doing for the next 2 weekends. I am very excited about taking a portrait workshop at the Barrett Art Center with Andrew Lattimore. I'll post pictures. What fun to work with a renowned painter. Check out his work.

I also applied for $20K Basil H. Alkazzi Award

So I applied for the NYFA fellowship but they also give out a $20k award to one painter. It's the Basil H. Alkazzi Award. An artist himself, Mr. Alkazzi will award $20k to a painter. Below was the 400 words I wrote to support and acknowledge portraiture as an art form that needs a resurrection back to it's glory days:

From the earliest advent of painting, the representation of the face and figure has been in evidence. But with the decline of romanticism in the late 19th century giving way to impressionism and abstract art, portraiture waned. Cubists such as Picasso maintained interest in painting the head and face but the distortion of features into geometric shapes can be interpreted as a visual metaphor for the demise of portraiture.

The portrait viewed through the lens of time established the continuity of a human presence within a family, social group or royal setting. It cemented the cherished unity of human togetherness. Today, in the wake of technology, the very notion of humanistic values long established by civilized societes has receded into the realm of shadows.

In my opinion, portrait painting exists at the distant fringes of today’s art scene in the US. It’s largely ignored by art galleries and critics alike. Can we find eyes that not only adore historical portraits but that can walk into a landscape or find good company in a portrait? Can portraiture find its way back to being in favor? Does it have to be strictly work-for-hire?

Many frustrated portrait painters, including myself, are primed to unite and change the perception of portraiture. Ironically, the very technology that deemphasized it is the solution to reestablish it’s place in history once again.

My expressive portraits, which convey emotions, intellect, and caring among other human qualities, and my experience in the commercial online space are both strong tools to advocate for portraiture. I value portrait expression in its own right and the freedom to explore this type of work on my own terms may provide answers on how I can help portraiture find it’s way back.

This award will allow me to find “eyes” for it.

My approach to portraiture?

To capture the richness of life with a conceptual dimension that makes my paintings unique like my clients. The result, a timeless and contemporary work of art and a treasured heirloom.

Applied for the NYFA fellowship on this project: 200 words or less to explain it???

To try to describe this project in 200 words or less was a challenge. Friends helped me write it but in the end, it was up to me to refine it so it was just right:

To take the path less chosen of portraiture was a risk I couldn’t take when I was young and although I became successful graphic designer, the creative satisfaction I craved was elusive and I learned to hate my work.

The "8 Portrait Peaces" project was conceived 2 years ago as an instrument of personal transformation, as a path back to the painter within. It was designed to nurture my creative spirit sparked 40 years ago by my mother who framed a small drawing of mine for all to see and now hangs in my studio. This series reflects and reaffirms my journey from darkness to light, to rediscover and hone my skills as a portrait artist and regain faith in my creativity.

The final result will be a series of eight 4'x6' expressive portraits (6 of which are already completed) depicting like-minded couples, themselves creative artists searching for their own paths and displaying the essence of what a human is.

This entire project, from conception to conclusion, has and will be documented and broadcast to the world using the full spectrum of social media tools as a public diary of creative rediscovery and the transition to a new career.

Thanks to Susie Linn for telling me about this fellowship. It's for painting and if I am lucky enough I could be the recipient of $7,000. That could go a long way to help my portrait career. My fingers are crossed and now the wait begins. Recipients are picked in April.

Portrait # 6 Richard and Donald photo op

Richard and Donald were kind enough to come to my house today to let me photograph them next to the painting. Kind of fun to have the 4 of them together ;)