Memorial to Three Firemen

 Works in Progress-To Be Continued

Honoring the memory of three Port St. Lucie Firemen:

Chief Earl Rountree

Chief W. E. Tylander

Chief John Baker

Portrait of Mary

  A pretty woman, a fuzzy picture.  I was given a commission for a portrait to create from an old photograph, taken when "Mary" was much younger.  Her husband, Ray wanted it as a surprise for a future event.  I did the best I could, not having even met Mary, and using a very small, old, fuzzy faded photograph.  It got rave reviews and the customer was very happy and proud.  Mary is still very beautiful, as is her younger version shown below.

"Portrait of Mary" Oil, by Judy Burgarella

Aside from the difficulties of an image without a lot of information contained within it, the strange lighting and shadows also posed some problems.  What colors to use? How much contrast? What were the actual values?  And some forms and details happen to be missing within the photograph.

The customer asked me to frame it with a gilded frame, which I happened to have on hand, and I believe it was the best choice for this portrait.

What a joy it is to paint a portrait and get to know a person's face inch-by-inch, and have the challenge especially of bringing it to life again decades later in the future.  Yes, a joy and a challenge, but exhausting and I'm relieved it came out ok and it's finished.

Ukraine in Crisis

 What can an artist do??

"KATERYNA"

As the date to do this portrait in acrylics class drew near I was moved to design something to go along with our world in crisis, mainly the Ukraine.  After researching facial features of Ukrainian women a face gradually emerged from my pencil of a woman in Ukrainian native dress and wearing a floral garland.  All designs were taken from historical photos on the internet and so are truly based on authentic Ukrainian attire.

The name "Kateryna" according to a list of Ukrainian names means "Pure." Pure and innocent are those who are being killed, maimed and driven from their free country.  The atrocities that Putin has inflicted upon the Ukrainian people will be revisited by all those who survived for the rest of their lives.

So what could an older, powerless, not-so-well-off artist do to help?  Well one was to recognize the Ukrainian people's plight by designing a work of art to represent their people.  And gradually I came up with the idea of donating the proceeds of this painting to them also.  And so the idea was born.  But wait--I thought, "How can I expand upon that idea?"  So then I came up with publishing it on the internet in hopes that other artists see it, paint it, sell it, and donate the proceeds.

So here is beautiful Kateryna, with instructions below it.  Feel free to improve it, change it, or be inspired by it to do something yourself that will help the people in the Ukraine.  

(Click on Kateryna to enlarge)

Note - Keep mind that these instructions were drafted for a classroom where I explained various techniques of painting in acrylics. Please look up on the internet "scumbling" as that was a common technique used in the final skin layers.  This portrait can also be created in oil, watercolor, pastels, colored pencils, etc.  I used a limited palette and did not name the actual colors as I provided all the supplies and some people in class are not familiar with the actual names of the colors. But following are colors I used or suggest: titanium white, cadmium yellow, cadmium orange, cadmium red light, alizarin crimson, dioxazene purple, ultramarine blue, permanent green light, sap green, burnt umber, burnt sienna, ivory black.

Also, I considered "Kateryna" finished enough for my class, however not finished enough to sell.  In spite of that a student insisted on purchasing it from the class "as is."  So the proceeds will be donated to:

                            Samaritan's Purse

                            P.O. Box 3000

                           Boone, North Carolina 28607

                          Phone - 828-262-1980

If you do decide to paint it yourself, I hope you will donate at least something to either Samaritan's Purse or another charity that is helping the Ukrainian people in their struggle to protect their citizens, help those who have survived, or help them in their fight for their freedom.

(Click on the below instructions to enlarge)

Portrait-ish works since last posting!

 Drama of the past 9 months ...

Covid came, went, and now is back again, with life's joys ebbing along with it.  Friends got it, and my family got it and we all survived, thank God.  And my artlife limped along with it.  With a few shows here and there, there wasn't much inspiration to paint, however posted herein are some portraits that I managed to complete over the long Covid season, and now art seems to be plugging along as we learn to live with this "Elephant in the Room!" 

I would love to share the Octopus I painted for my daughter Robin, however it was copied from someone else's painting and cannot be shown or published anywhere.  The beauty of becoming an artist is that I can copy any wonderful work of art and enjoy it for myself, or give it to family. To own a fairly good painted  copy of a "Master" work is such a privilege.  Any good artist can copy a master, but the composition--now that comes from the master himself!  To me, composition is 75% of a fine work, with draftsmanship being only 25%--although there is a great deal of mystery and magic to the handling of the brush and pigment, which you can only copy from first-hand viewing in a museum. So kindly scroll down and enjoy seeing some of my new portrait-ish works.

DRAGON FOR MY GRANDDAUGHTER

"Dragon" Oil painting, 28"x36" by Judy Burgarella

"Dragon" took several months to paint because I hated doing it.  I blocked it in and left it out on our Lanai (porch) to dry and didn't pick up the brush to it for a couple of months.  This was a gift for my granddaughter, who gave me a crumpled-up faded picture of one to inspire me.  After two months her birthday was coming up soon so I HAD to finish it.  Well, when I took it up again and started layering in more detail I realized it was really fun painting from my head and using my own imagination. 

My granddaughter, who went from loving unicorns to overnight loving Harry Potter with all those witches and dragons, much to my chagrin.  She loved her birthday present, and it helped transform her "Unicorn decor" into "HarryPotterville."  I'll do more of these, they're such fun!

SPENSER

"Spenser" was a delight to paint, with that sad-sack cute face!  When I sent it to the client he said I really captured him, and when he came to pick the painting up I got to meet Spenser (and his whole family!) and by gosh it did look just like him.  Painted from a photo with a couple of other references.

"Spenser" Acrylic, 14"x11" (unframed) by Judy Burgarella

ALFRED (FREDDY) HAIR, HIGHWAYMAN ARTIST (1941-1971)

The "Alfred Hair" portrait is part of a series of Highwaymen Artists I plan on painting, a multi-layered project I am working on with my friend Camy DeMario.  We hope to launch this year, but who knows. Crazy times with many distractions.  

Alfred was a very talented Highwayman artist in the 60's who tragically was killed at the age of 30, as his "star" was rising in his type of art form.  "Freddy" lived most of his life in Fort Pierce, Florida, and studied under the famous A. E. (Beany) Backus, a museum of which is named for him and and where his (Beany's) work resides.  Many Highwaymen paintings are also housed in the A. E. Backus Museum and Gallery in Fort Pierce, Florida.  The Highwaymen were a loosely-organized group of black artists who mostly painted colorful Florida landscapes, painted images that depicted the beauty and drama that was Florida back then.  Their work is a visual compilation of the life and beauty of old Florida. 

"Alfred (Freddy) Hair," Highwayman, 14"x11", Acrylic by Judy Burgarella

"Osceola" Acrylic, 12"x12"x1-1/2" by Judy Burgarella

"OSCEOLA" and "OSCEOLA DEATH MASK"

I had been researching Chief Osceola, an historic Florida Indian, ever since moving to Florida 15 years ago.  I have painted him several times, in oil and pastel, sculpted him in clay to bronze, and now painted his image and death mask in acrylics, specifically for a show at Gallery 14 in Vero beach, Florida in the summer of 2021.  

Since he died before the advent of photography, there are scant images of him in sketch and paint, some by artists who hadn't ever met him or seen him.  However there were many written accounts of his appearance, "countenance," demeanor and dress.  He was actually only 1/8 Indian, the rest Scottish, so it is written, and therefor I based my rendition of him on all that I'd read and pictures I'd seen in books.  

Some years ago, at the time I was having a bronze of Osceola caste at the Vero Beach Museum, I came across a mention of his death mask in the New York City Historical Society.  Soon after while visiting relatives in Connecticut, I drove to New York to have a private showing of the death mask, which was in their archives and not on display.  The image of his mask looked different from all the other images I'd seen, however it was probably caste much after his death, after tissue had been drawn downward as liquids settled, possibly changing his appearance.  His death and the process of creating the death mask was very gruesome according to written recounts of his death and subsequent preparation for the cast. His life story, capture and death is a dramatic story, well worth reading.  An admirable, intelligent and powerful leader who deserves far more tribute than he has received to date.  Read the background print closely.

Hope you enjoyed my post.

Judy Burgarella

Blogger

Portrait of Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar

Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar
Painted in Acrylic by Judy Burgarella 14"x11"

Painted in October 2020 to present to Sheriff Loar at our Keeping the Arts Alive art show in Raw Space, Gallery, Vero Beach.   Also presented to the VB Fire Department was my acrylic painting, "Fire," shown below.

"Fire" Acrylic Painting by Judy Burgarella

AMELIA EARHART

 

"Amelia Earhart" Pastel, 14"x11" by Judy Burgarella

Amelia Earhart, 14"x11", was created in pastel especially for a special art show during the  Blue Angels air show at the Vero Beach Municipal Airport, scheduled for April 2020.  The air show was cancelled due to Covid-19, however the art show was already installed.  I was unable to pick it up on the appointed removal day, and eventually came to believe that "Amelia" was in her rightful home.  And so there will be a formal presentation to a representative of the Vero Beach Municipal Airport on November 5th at 6:00pm at "Keeping the Arts Alive" fine art show at Raw Space, 1795 Old Dixie Highway, Vero Beach, Florida.  Amelia was a delight to paint, as all portraits seem to be to me.  The privilege of being able to paint someone and share that moment in their lives, caught on film, is like making a new friend.

"Alma Lee Loy" Acrylic, 14"x11" by Judy Burgarella

Alma Lee Loy was painted especially for "Keeping the Arts Alive," as a tribute to her, and a gift to the City of Vero Beach, which she loved and dedicated much of her life to making better.  She is considered the matriarch of the City, one who was continuously involved in its betterment and various charities and fundraisers.  I painted her into the "Vero Beach Mural" (www.verobeachmural.blotspot.com) in 2013, and I was honored to have her pose for me.  I smiled most of the time I was painting her, remember all that she was and accomplished, and thinking about her wonderful smile and demeanor.

Sadly, she passed away in April of 2020, however she lived to see many of her dreams for Vero Beach come true.  Thank you Alma Lee for making our world a better place.

Mr. Konopacky

A gift for our neighbor and friend
Our neighbor Mike Konopacky lost his dad last year and asked that I do a portrait of him for the family, and here it is ~

Mr. Konopacky, 14"x11", oil on canvas by Judy Burgarella

Mr. Konopacky made it to his 100th birthday, fishing right up until the end in his hometown of Steven's Point, Wisconsin.  He was sharp and feisty, with a good wit.  Rest in peace dear old man.

I only just remembered this painting, so it is out of the order in which it was painted.  During this Covid-19 pandemic, you'd think I would have done lots of paintings.  Don't know where the time went, but it wasn't so bad since we live on a beautiful canal in the sweet town of Sebastian, Florida. 

Will post again when I do something artsy portrait-wise.

Judy Burgarella
blogger