Final version Nude with Reflection

I often let painting sit in my studio, to tweek them, a little here a brushstroke there. This one is now finished. Scroll below to see the original idea, an earlier version of this canvas.
A big thanks to Suzy at Dream Keyper for a nice write up, following my dreams. Suzy and I developed the famous Funk Shui T-shirts years ago!Get your Funk on, Suzy!

from 20 minute pose to larger painting

What luck to have a pregnant model at the Anacortes figure drawing group! My friend Dick doesn't see what the appeal is, but I guess he's never been pregnant.....Here is a quick 20 minute pose oil on 12 x 16 panel. I didn't quite know what to do with the side view back pose, so I added the reflection in the mirror behind and included a bit of a self portrait, painting the painting in the mirror. I like the concept of figure and reflection. So at Dick's suggestion I decided to enlarge the composition into a 24 by 30" canvas. Sometimes it doesn't quite work out to enlarge the composition, in this case the proportions aren't quite the same, but I like the exaggerated perspective. Almost done. Small study is available unframed $250
24 x 30 oil on canvas is available $975.
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Portraits including Self Portraits!

Just returned from a 3 day weekend painting workshop focusing on self portraits and portraits. Challenging!!!! We set up mirrors next to our easel, strong light and warmed up with a few 20 minute thumbnails. The first self-portrait was over a 2 afternoon period. Mine changed radically in color as the painting progressed. We also did a quick 2 hour self portrait, I tried to stay in a mostly red format and mid values. We also had a great model with a very chiselled face, great to paint! Here are the results, all oil on panels.

Fall Workshop, San Juan Islands

A great workshop this fall, perfect weather, wondeful people, and a productive time for all. We started off on San Juan, talking about field equipment, setting up palettes, sketching on location....limited palettes. Our second day we worked with underpaintings, the next day we rode the inter-island ferry to Shaw and found way too many painting locations. The fourth and final day we all set up on the cliffs at the South End of San Juan Island, for great views across the water