This morning I picked up my painting “Rock and Snow” from the John H. Baker Gallery on the campus of West Chester University. At the gallery I ran into my mentor Karl Kuerner who was busy picking up his own works too. I also had the opportunity to meet the Gallery’s namesake John Baker an art professor at the university. John and Karl told me that the exhibit was very well attended and received by the community. Nearly four hundred people visited the exhibit opening! More importantly, my wife is happy to have the painting back home in it’s rightful place above the couch in our family room.
Two weeks pasted in a flash. Life has a way of making time evaporate and I can blame no one but myself. On the bright side I was back in Karl’s studio taking another swing at this portrait. My elation from the first session not quite as exuberant, like many artists I’m though on myself. I think the criticality comes from the learning that occurred the last time I touched brush to canvas.
Luciana Session Two
Tonight I focused on developing Luciana’s facial structure. As you can see above, details have started to emerge on the face. I’ve placed he eyes, nose and mouth avoiding detail yet trying to anchor her features with shadow. You might have noticed that my color pallet has also warmed a bit and the darks have become darker. The contrast between values makes the painting come alive. Karl never ceases to remind me by chanting, “darks and lights” during every studio session.
At my wife’s urging I embarked on Luciana’s Portrait. Luciana is my granddaughter and the subject of oodles of photographs. Agreeing to the portrait was the easy part; more challenging was developing the nerve to begin. My existing body of work includes only two examples of human faces. My first, titled “Sleepy Kids” includes my youngest daughter and our chocolate and tan dapple dachshunds asleep on the couch in repose. Devin, the title of my second attempt, captures a family friend lost in though at work. I feel both paintings were successful and developmental. So armed with a reference photograph, a linen canvas and my aging collection of oils I started to work.
Luciana’s Reference Photo
I work from my own photography in my studio or that of my mentor Karl Kuerner. I started Luciana’s portrait in Karl’s studio from the reference photo below. I don’t spend a great deal of time planning my work or pallet. I don’t do value studies and I rarely create exploratory studies of my subjects. I work more spontaneously or emotionally in the moment.
Luciana Stage One
During my first session I blocked out major sections of the portrait on my canvas. The head, hands and blanket are the primary compositional elements laid down on a simplified background. I left Karl’s studio thrilled with my progress.
Artwork by Karl Kuerner & his Students is now on display the John H. Baker Gallery on the West Chester University campus. The exhibit titled “Art Spirit and Beyond” continues through February 24th, stop in the work is simply wonderful!
I’m honored to have a piece on display along side these talented artists. “Rock and Snow” which is also known as “My Pet Rock” at home hangs in the Baker Gallery. The piece is acrylic on board, measuring 24″ high by 49″ wide and one of our favorite paintings.
Me in front of “Rock and Snow”
As you can see I dressed for my visit to the gallery on Saturday February 4th. Unfortunately, I missed the opening reception on February 1st, which was well attended by several hundred visitors. I
Walter Thomas Lee 