Portraiture: A Philadelphia Tradition

[Linda Brandon]

What a good looking show, big congratulations to all of you!

[Alexandra Tyng]

Thanks, Pam, Ilaria, Allan, Mischa, Sharon and Linda! It was wonderful seeing all these portraits together in one room. Just standing in the center of the gallery, I realized that portraits have a tremendous impact, a combination of the artist's vision and the presence of the individual looking out from the canvas.

Last night, in conjunction with the exhibit, Garth and I did 2-hour demos at the art center. I'm hoping Garth will post the photos of us with our portraits. Garth painted the Chairman of the Board while I painted the daughter of a patron of the Art Center. It was nervewracking but fun at the same time.

[Thomasin Dewhurst]

What a super show! I am sure your demos went splendidly Alex and Garth. I wish I could have been there for the opening and for the demos. Congratulations!

[Alexandra Tyng]

Thanks for your encouragement, Thomasin. I might have been a lot MORE nervous knowing you were watching! I must get more practice doing these things. That was my first "public" demo.

[Alexandra Tyng]

Here's a photo from Garth's camera, taken by a student of mine. (Thanks, Jeff.)

[Sharon Knettell]

Great stuff guys!

I hate doing demos. You both survived admirably!

[Alexandra Tyng]

Thank you, Sharon. It was very interesting to see how differently Garth and I approached the painting process. I think what you do in the first couple of hours says a lot about an artist. (Just don't ask me WHAT it says. )

[Garth Herrick]

Hi Alex,

Thanks for this thread. I'm so late to join in! Thanks to all for the great supportive comments!

I think Alex and I both were surprised we were the only ones to demonstrate painting a portrait, last night; and I tried to pretend there weren't a room full of eyes scrutinizing every brush stroke at first. I think for both of us, it was our first public demonstration experience. All I could think was that I did not want to publically screw up or come to a hesitating point of indecision! The audience had a few tough questions and comments along the way. I did not have a perfect answer for everything, but people seemed adequately entertained and mesmerized by the rapid progress of our portraits. I gradually became acustomed and accepting to the attention we were given.

Friends came out I did not expect: an online friend with the PAFA Fellowship, I never met in person; a devoted student of Studio Incamminati; a professional commercial photographer, who commandeered my camera to document me painting; and a former student. A couple of scheduled evening painting classes took time out to absorb the demonstration too. All very flattering!

My portrait subject was the Chairman of the Board of the Wayne Art Center; a delightful soft-spoken gentleman. He sat casually in a two-hundred year old Sheraton Fancy Chair, I provided, although to be sure, that chair became completely hidden; still I think it suited him well. I began with a neutral toned canvas (not my usual, but the ground was toned with Golden Acrylic's Neutral Grey # 6). This happened to be a great counterpoint to the warm palette of color samples presented by my subject. Building from the middle gray, I first organized the portrait with some darks and shadows, then built some highlight masses on top of the gray. It makes an easy rapid way to paint. Two hours was not quite enough to wrap things up, but that was all the time we had.

Like Alex, I found the experience nervewracking and fun, simultaneously. I possibly appeared to exude more confidence at the easel than I actually felt within. At any rate I was surprised at the positive response from the audience. I somehow expected more critique. It was a rewarding experience! The photos may be a little misleading, in conveying that we possibly smiled and laughed the whole time! I think there were serious questioning moments of decision too.

I was envious Alex had such a pretty girl to paint. She did an admirable portrait of her! I think it was good showmanship on the part of the Art Center to provide two great subject models.

Now for some pictures: Alex already provided the first, but I want to test the color profiling here with another posting.

Next is a closer up shot of me with my portrait (Thanks Lydia).

Third is an action shot from behind (thanks to John Chew, Jr.).

Last is a rehanging of my portraits in the Gallery. The "President Judge" is unveiled.

Garth

[Garth Herrick]

Originally Posted by Alexandra Tyng

Thank you, Sharon. It was very interesting to see how differently Garth and I approached the painting process. I think what you do in the first couple of hours says a lot about an artist. (Just don't ask me WHAT it says. )

I thank you too, Sharon. Alex, for one thing, it shows you have the competance to get more canvas resolved in the alotted time! I can't quite keep up with you. I am afraid to know "what" it says too!

Garth

[Linda Ciallelo]

This is wonderful. Thanks so much for this thread. Congratulations to all in the show. It's good to see so much quality in one place. And it's nice to see the artists.