I am teaching a graduate school online painting class this semester, here is a "exercise" I did for the class over the weekend.I have not done this for long time, and this is the first time I paint the "exercise" from a photo reference. A little too tight, but not too bad for a demo :)
12 comments:
Not too bad!?! This is a magnificent painting. I can't stop looking at it. Oh, to be able to paint portraits like this.
Hi !
Your portrait work is stunning!
Have you ever heard of Nicolai Fechin? One of the best! Russian, turn of the century. He had such a loose and expressive hand. If you haven't heard of him, please look him up online--and try to get one of his books. I am lucky enough to have his large compendium of work, which are becoming more and more difficult to find.
Your new portraits have the same flavor as his.
I tend to avoid saying "your work looks just like his" because I don't believe that is our goal as artists--to copy another's style. But I do believe we study others' work to help us find our own artistic voice, and engage some elements of others' work to incorporate as passages in our own efforts. This is what I would say is occurring in your portraits. They don't "look like" Fechin's work, they incorporate some of his best techniques causing your work to have the vigor and dynamism of his work.
Congratulations and good luck.
Marie Martin
Amazing portrait!!
This is brilliant! I can't stop looking at it..You are fabulous! :)
Wow. Love it. Amazing!
Beautiful portrait.
What size brushes did you use for this?
It looks so effortless yet has just the right amount of detail.
This is gorgeous Fongwei. I love your use of red on the face and the contrasting cool background.
Thanks for sharing.
Fongwei, this is outstanding.
Thanks everyone for comments!!
Janice, the biggest brush I used for this one is 2” and the smallest probably #1.
Hi Marie, thank you for the comment again! Think I have to reply to you :)
I have heard of Fechin, and I am lucky too, I have a few of his good books (published in China) in my collections. I do wish I can paint as good as him in technique someday.
I do agree with you about studying others’ work. I learned a lot from both impressionism and realistic painting, some time even abstract art.
I do not worry about it if people say my work is like someone. I know that I learn from everything around us but I am painting by my own philosophy. If my work is like someone, that means someone may have a similar philosophy with me.
I think good paintings will influence our taste, and the taste will be showing through our painting.
Best,
Fongwei
This is really terrific. I love your handling of the curves of the face. Just great!
Sounds like a fun exercise!
Excellent artworks.
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