How to paint clerical robes...what was I thinking?

On the radio today. Catch me at noon west coast time on The Lyn Fairly and Friends Show

http://www.kvta.com/on-air/lyn-fairly/

Top image is a portrait commission just about to leave my easel. A reverend from the mid-1800s for a church collection. My second reverend for this collection. I wanted a back light on my sitter. A candlelight kinda feel. That I made up from my head.

The photo reference was minimal for this posthumous portrait. Only one ever-so grainy photo of an old 'head' portrait done of this reverend - and not a good one at that. No clothing I could count on.

So how did I do the vestments? Research. Always do your homework. I looked up other clerical portraits from the time for feel and style. Then I posed some cloth on a dress form in my studio under a light and the rest is history.

I wanted a contemporary color harmony tho' as I feel it important to paint in your own time period even if you are painting someone from a long time ago.

Hope you like.

Vermeer - the hottest thing since sliced bread?

My favorite painter Vermeer traded his master pieces for bread just to survive.

I guess he had no time to second guess his art work, never imagining in his wildest croissant dream moment that he would be the hottest thing since sliced bread centuries later, his "Girl With a Pearl Ear-Ring" idolized world-over.

Did he like his paintings when he finished them I wonder? He was a SLOW methodical painter, fastidious in technique, who apparently did very few paintings in his lifetime. Being the bread-winner, got in the way.

Not that I am anything close to a Vermeer, but I promised I would post the' finish' of this painting just off easel, after the earlier 'mushy middle' stage post. I am now in the final stage wondering if a good crusty warm french loaf is in my future.

"SILENT LONGING"

American Stories By Johanna Spinks, copyrighted.

18"x24"

oil on linen, framed

$1,500

Shipping $50