Pastel Portrait at the Sebastian River Art Club

On Saturday, August 15th I was having such a good time with my granddaughter Salem, that I forgot I was supposed to be painting a live model at the Sebastian River Art Club!  So arriving late, I took the only position left, which was a 3/4 profile.  It ended up being the most interesting angle and I had a great time painting Anthony Smith, a young black gent.

Brett Pigon, a Melbourne artist, was instructing many of the artists present, who were sketching in mostly pencil and charcoal.  I love color, so after a brief drawing of burnt umber pastel over vine charcoal, I dug into my colors.  Reds, greens, oranges, purples and ochre, layering and tweaking, from dark to light, on old smooth buff paper bound in a book.  So in about 2 hours I had a pretty good image going, with lots of color.  Couldn't wait to get back to it so when I got home I put another hour or so into it.  My plan is to dress him in an ethnic shirt, very colorful, and put additional color on his face.  Hair dreds also need work.

Anthony Smith, Pastel by Judy Burgarella

I usually do a demo for my Thursday class at the Sebastian River Art Club, and I saw this beautiful painting (actually it's a mixed media drawing) by Leonardo DaVinci--or so the experts think--and was so enamored by it that I decided to paint it, hoping I could create it fast enough to use it as a demo.  It was fun, and I brought it to class and demoed how to start and create many elements of this painting.

Painted copy by Judy Burgarella of "Profile of a Woman in Renaissance Dress" by Leonardo DaVinci

This painting is also not finished, as I must wait until it is dry to increase its color values, but I am very happy with the outcome of 3-1/2 hour's work, painted in oil on a 12" x 16" canvas board. I prefer canvas board because it takes up so little room in my studio, is easy to store, and will not get holes or dents poked into it.

My acrylic portrait class in the Vero Beach Museum is scheduled in September and this is in the running for what I may choose to get my students started.  She is beautiful, and her clothing is so interesting.  They'll love it.  What a Master ... DaVinci.

I'm excited to start my next portrait, which I believe will be a very interesting one for a very interesting competition.  It will be posted here as soon as it's done, so stay tuned!

Judy Burgarella
Blogger

Lucy Finished!

"Lucy" oil portrait by Judy Burgarella

Finished this oil portrait of "Lucy," Ruth Steer's great granddaughter.  Ruth, my student and friend from Grand Harbor in Vero Beach, had started the portrait even though she had limited time left on this planet.  She tried her best to get it done but her time just ran out.  I helped her paint from her sickbed, she loved to paint.  She was no longer able to finish "Lucy," but I put the brush in her hand and she painted a lovely rose in a vase, which was exhibited at her memorial service.

Ruth was a great lady, an accomplished artist, and I felt privileged to be her art instructor and friend.  She gave me much wise advice on many topics over the years, and I admired her strength, courage and upbeat attitude in spite of her condition.  And she sure did love her family, and chatted about them often while painting.  I hope she would be happy with what I've done to the remains of her painting.  I sent it to her family just before Christmas.

One of Ruth's old wooden paintboxes is on the easel, with the Mona Lisa's beginnings on it.  Since Leonardo took over 4 years to complete his Mona Lisa, I think it will take me a while to finish mine.  On one other of Ruth's wood paintboxes I painted a rooster and donated towards the Sebastian River Art Club's scholarship fund.  Also, I recently purchased an old wooden ironing board which I will soon paint a portrait of an old black woman hanging clothes on a clothesline, leaving much of the wood untouched.  What a wonderful conversation piece--can't wait to work on that one too.  The design is drawn out, now to paint it.  Perhaps I'll paint coordinating wine glasses to set on it as a cocktail table.  Life's a banquet when you paint--full of adventure, color, interesting people, and new ideas that just keep rolling around in your head just waiting to come out through your paintbrush!

Looking forward to new creations and art experiences in 2015!  Happy New Year to all!

Judy Burgarella
Blogger

Osceola, From His DEATH MASK

Had to pull a couple of all-nighters, but finally finished "Osceola, From His Death Mask," a 12"x18" pastel portrait.  Cut the mat, have the frame, and it's ready to be put together.  However, I will have it digitally scanned and professionally printed before entering it into the Vero Beach Art Club's "Art By The Sea" at the Vero Beach Museum of Art in VB, Florida.

I first sculpted a bust of Osceola from the photos I took of the plaster casting of his death mask in NYC.  Using the sculpted bust, I positioned him exactly profiled for the portrait.  I now can repaint him in any light and position I want, and it will be from his original image.  How exciting is that?  Stay tuned for many more paintings of this famous Seminole Warrior.  The below is copyrighted, and cannot legally be copied. 

"Osceola, From His Death Mask" 12"x18" Pastel by Judy Burgarella

I have been fascinated with the story of Osceola since moving to Florida in 2005.  His is an exciting, dramatic, and tragic story ... one which would make a terrific movie or documentary.  Look around, you Floridians, his name is everywhere, and so his legacy lives on.

Hope you enjoyed this posting.

Judy Burgarella
Blogger

July 2013 - Portrait of a Boy

In July I finished a portrait of a beautiful little toddler, grandson of Sebastian River Art Club colleague Joan Piazza.  It was a small one, 9"x12" I think (it's gone now), but fun to do.  I got jump-started by using it as a demo so I could at least get the brush to canvas.  A few more sessions and it was finished.

 Nothing sitting on my easel at the present time, but I have some terrific ideas on portraits coming up.  Check back when you can.

Judy Burgarella

Blogger

Off the Easel

My latest, subject to tweaking as customer sees it.  A beautiful woman in a pretty dress, such a pleasure to paint, especially once you get the eyes finished and looking at you.  Just love doing portraits, and this one went quickly, although it had a rough start.  I began this one as a demo in an art class at the Artists Guild Gallery.  It's always a little embarassing for students to see a "works-in-process" painting as they always look so awful, especially portraits.  It's the last half-hour where most of the excitement happens ... and it does happen.  But I always love to see it framed, and so here it is, still wet, but with a nice frame.  This painting was done with water-soluble oil paints, a new medium for me and one which I will use again.  Not quite as good as traditional oils, but no smell and cleans up with water--so much nicer!

If you would like to see more work like this, come to the Sebastian Art Studio Tour and visit my studio - click on www.SebastianArtStudioTour.com for more information.

Judy Burgarella