I have been painting with Cherokee artist Bert Seabourn for a year now. I had not ever before attempted to paint a face. I did my first painted portrait last Fall. This is a sketch from my last class.
It was drawn from a historic photograph. We have done a few of these and the expressions varied widely. I cannot imagine the emotions these men must have felt as they watched their way of life disappear under plows and railway tracks.
Classes are done for a couple months and I’m back in the studio. Severe weather season is done and the Oklahoma Summer heat is moving in, making staying there easy. My Canadian blood just won’t thin past a certain point!
So there is more to come.
I’ve dragged some larger canvases into the studio. An expressionist friend of mine and I are doing paintings of the same photograph from her garden. It should be fun to see how different they are. She’ll keep me on track! So, we’ll see what happens. It might be time to finish that self portrait too…
Art Openings
Bert is having an opening this Friday at JRB at the Elms in the Paseo district this Friday, June 5th. He recently shared an old photo of himself and Bonnie (his wife) with Gerald and Betty Ford and a gorgeous painting. The painting is now in the President Ford Library collection in Ann Arbor, MI. Bert has work in collections all over the world.
A classmate of mine, Joan Frimberger, is a fine equine artist and she will be showing at Paseo this Friday as well.
“First Friday” is a big event in the Paseo Arts District every month and if you’re in the OKC area this Friday, do check it out.
Next weekend, June 12-13, is the opening of the “Prix de West“, one of the largest exhibitions of Western Art. For those outside Oklahoma, all of the paintings are viewable on the website.
that is a great sketch 🙂 makes me sad when I think of the First Nations people loosing their way of life. I know it wasn’t any better in the states then Canada :/ was horrible everywhere, and shouldn’t have happened
the paintings you and your friend are doing is a good idea. its always interesting to see how different people interpret a photo or object 🙂
Thanks Jennifer Rose.
It’s Ingrid’s photo and our styles couldn’t be more polar opposite, so it should be fun to see the results. I’ve got the drawing on the canvas, all ready to paint.
yeah 2 completely different styles, will be interesting to see if you guys post them 🙂
Planning on it! 🙂
Great post Michelle!!
I am writing from the Gravytown Library. :0)
This is the first thing I checked out when we arrived.
Great drawing and I can’t wait to see what you will be doing with the paining.
Send us off both!
xoxox
Anita
Hi Anita!
Not sure if this will be a painting yet. Too many other things to finish! Hope all is well…. 🙂
Love your last portrait sketch with Bert! Keep up the good work!
Love Aunt Margot
Thanks! 🙂
I must have been in social media hibernation when you posted this one…sigh.
1. portrait, cool! Love the light touch on the lines, light as in unlaboured, confident, with expression.
2. expressionism, thanks. Never quite sure where my art fits in with the world. Love expressionism (although ‘meets art deco’) comes to mind.
3. No spoilers, cannot comment. Now off to post mine before I lose my nerve.
Ha! I’ve saw the sneak preview… It’s gorgeous. Posting my finished product today.