Portraits

Several years ago I saw an exhibition of Greuze portraits at the Getty. I was stunned by how much emotion he captured in his subjects. It had a powerful impact on me and set me on a course to expand my skills to include portraiture. I decided to learn it academic style -- like the old masters -- in an atelier setting and in natural light. I went back to school and worked my way through many classes and many teachers, but always left frustrated. Then one day I saw two exquisite paintings done by Adrian Gottlieb. I have been working with him ever since.

Adrian taught me the old fashioned way. I wasn’t allowed to paint until I could draw the form. This method of painting is not quick. There’s no knocking a portrait out in three hours. A single portrait is developed over the course of weeks and even months. It takes years, great skill and patience to paint at Adrian’s level. In the end the portraits are heirlooms that will stay in a family for generations.

When it comes to portraiture, I am a student. This is some of the work I’ve done with Adrian. I’m working on finishing two more portraits at this time.

Click picture for close up view