The Pros and Cons of Varnishing
This oil portrait’s coat of varnish can be removed and replaced with no harm to the painting.
In the history of painting, oil portrait varnishing was prevalent in earlier times. However, because the older type varnishes tended to yellow or darken and crack over the ages it gradually became unpopular. With modern technology we are told this has been handled, thus making it desirable again. On the other hand, indoor atmospheres are much cleaner than they were in yesteryear, so varnishing is not needed (or applied) as much as it used to be.
The idea behind varnishing is to protect the painting from any possible environmental dirt, dust and moisture. Many years down the line, if your painting does need cleaning, you can [continue reading…]
Batista and Evelyn record their love for posterity
I took great pleasure in painting the oil portraits of husband and wife Batista and Evelyn Madonia of Plant City, Florida. It all started that very special day several years ago. They had seen my work on TV (a Fox News feature) and called me right away. Evelyn said that in all the memorable decades of their marriage they had never had an original oil portrait done and it was definitely time. We scheduled them to come to my studio for a reference photoshoot for my painting. [continue reading…]
Click on the white triangle above to see the CBS program with Norman Rockwell’s oil painting, “The Rookie.”
I love hearing stories about my cousin Norman Rockwell. I thought you might enjoy this one about a favorite oil paining. It was sent to me from a client of mine who said I could share it with you.
“I came across my favorite oil painting by Norman Rockwell, ‘The Rookie.’ It was shown in 1957 on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post Magazine. You know how each one of his paintings struck a cord with the public? This one came very close to home for me. I even knew the old clubhouse shown in the painting. [continue reading…]
Lovely Carla, captured for her mother now, and then for Carla’s children later on.
Here is a commissioned custom portrait painting that I particularly had fun creating. First I had the pleasure of painting Carla and her brother in 2003. She was 12 and he was 14. You can see them in the related posts and pages below.
Then their mother wanted a separate portrait of each of them at 18. We took the reference shots for George and I painted his portrait in 2007. When it came time for Carla’s portrait there was always some trip or she was off at school or doing other different interesting things that delayed the portrait. I really thought it wasn’t going to happen and then it [continue reading…]
Oil portrait artist and husband sit for spring greeting card
Even though I may write you most often from the viewpoint of an artist creating oil portraits, I join each person on earth in making a myriad of things every day in his life. From neatening a room, to cooking a pancake, making a trip, buying a postcard, writing an email, making an announcement, hearing and understanding someone’s troubles and then comforting [continue reading…]
A rider with her horse makes for an aesthetic portrait
Here is another custom oil portrait of horse and rider that I did for Karen. Horses are a very special animal, that’s for sure. In this portrait she wanted to feature Barnaby at full stance. We went to her riding range and took photographs at a few different locations and angles. Barnaby was on his best behavior. I liked this one because even though the horse dominated due to his size, Karen was also very visible. Also, dappled shadows can be so expressive in outdoor scenes. Although the background wasn’t perfect, there were a few elegantly tall oleander bushes and a smattering of colorful flowers here and there. That’s all the input needed to spark a painter’s license [continue reading…]
See the video clip that WEDU (PBS station) made for their Arts Plus program. Just click cover image, above.
A little stir was created in our quiet neighborhood the day that a brightly colored van showed up at our house. It displayed WEDU with bold letters and scenes of newscasters and shows. Some of our neighbors told us they couldn’t help but be curious as to what was going on. [continue reading…]
A portrait of an imaginary world inspired by the subject
Oil portraits of imagination: That’s a favorite place to be for all of us, isn’t it? I love to make portraits that have just a touch of make-believe in them. I visualized portraying a lovely client of mine as a wood nymph. I mentioned it to her, Mona, the mother of 2 beautiful teenage girls I had just painted. She was instantly stirred by the idea too. She then added to my dream by getting an old-time classical dress made. Gerry photographed her in our studio for my reference. She became my muse! I put her in a sylvan setting that suited her, with lighting just so, for the right amount of daydreaming. This portrait quickly became the latest best-loved painting [continue reading…]
Beautifully painted portraits make for treasured family heirlooms.
You’ll see the unveiling of two painted portraits for a family from last September, a visit from a teenager and his mother with his portrait of 11 years ago, and an interview with the artist.
Here is a sneak preview of the new paintings with recent remarks from the owners:
“I look at the paintings every night. I have the lamps on the table turned out with soft white lighting to illuminate them. How magical they appear! Often late at night with just those small lamps on I find myself bringing a chair over from the kitchen to sit down in the foyer and admire them!” said the busy doctor and father last week. [continue reading…]
To receive a beautiful piece of art of yourselves
is a thrill without equal.
When Gregg commissioned me to do the charcoal portrait of his sister and new husband, he shared a dramatic family story with me: First, his English father and American mother lived in London with their son. Then, in the 1960s, father left them for another woman. Gregg’s mother brought her son to America. Gregg’s father remarried and had 2 more children. History repeated itself when he left his second family on their own too. In their struggle, they were helped by very famous neighbor and friend, the late Margaret Thatcher who later became Prime Minister of England. Then, many years after, Gregg’s half-sister [continue reading…]
