An Oil Portrait of Irene Hess

Irene Hess 1910 - 2010

Oil Portrait by Lisabelle

Portrait in Progress March 2010

16x20" Linen

An oil portrait of the Late Irene Hess. The Commissioner:
Institute For Social Research, University of Michigan.
The portrait can be viewed in stages, in this image, is Lisabelle, sketching the oil portrait subject, from a photograph.  A sketch familiarizes the artist, with the portrait subject.  While drafting the image in this stage of a portrait. The artist uses this necessary operation as an opportunity to gain a clear visual sense of  the physical form of the individual to be represented realistically, rendering a good, true likeness in the drawing of your portraits sitter or subject, is quintessential basics for a museum quality, classical and traditional,  portrait in oil paint.

Every color can produce a variety of tones; how light or dark these are depends on the color. It's important to realize that tones are relative, that how dark or light they seem depends on what's going on around them. A tone that's obviously light in one context may seem darker in another, especially when it's surrounded by even lighter tones.

If a painting is going to be successful, you must get the tones right, otherwise it's going lack harmony. A good practice is studying a black and white photograph for an understanding of tonal values from light to dark and all the various grays in between.  Color mixing and application, adjusting shapes and tones.  Being careful with detail areas, if necessary, repainting lines to maintain correct likeness.  

A finely woven linen canvas has been stretched and the surface prepared with clear acrylic gesso, it 16"x 20".  Portraits from photos. Oil portrait demonstration. First an accurate realistic drawing. Secondly, a grisaille an under painting technique, to map the tonal values, necessary to create depth and realism.  The tones are from darkest, burnt umber, to middle values, with burnt sienna and white, lightest values created with white being mixed with sienna and umber.  Sienna for warm tones and umber for cool.
 

Art By Lisabelle