Get Your Portrait Painted from life....

A sitting from life this week at my studio...

Portrait of A Hero: Marine Nicholas H. Anderson

Today is Memorial Day in The United States. I wish everyone wore red paper poppies in their lapels like they do in England on this sad day.

 It seems so fitting that everyone SHOWS that they are actually thinking about the fallen through a simple red flower pin rather than throwing steaks on the BBQ. Almost everyone in England wears this pin on Remembrance Day. You are a heel if you don't. You also donate money to the veterans' cause with the purchase of this poppy.

Today I honor fallen Marine Lance Corporal Nicholas H. Anderson from Ventura County, killed in 2004 in the line of duty in Iraq. I painted him for an ongoing art project by Sherry Moore called The Portrait of The Fallen Memorial. If you are are an artist residing in California, could you paint a hero for this worthy project?

If so go here: http://www.portraitsofthefallenmemorial.org/

I have never met Nicholas's family. If anyone out there knows the family, I sure would love them to see this portrait and perhaps, if they would like, give them as many prints as they want. It is the least I can do.

Please read some of these posts about Nicholas' contribution to the services and the pain of his loss. It is very moving...and makes me hate war more than I did in the first place.

http://www.fallenheroesmemorial.com/oif/profiles/andersonnicholash.html

And if you are out and about today in America at a BBQ, raise a glass to this courageous young man. I will look for a poppy instead and wear it for Nicholas.

How to Paint a Gem of A Portrait

This is lovely Leah, my class demo at The California Art Institute...I don't always like my demos but I think this is a little gem.

YEARNING

Class Demo

Oil on Linen

$300, plus tax

Free shipping

I am working hard on demos being not only good for the students' learning but GOOD for my painting satisfaction too.

I really caught her expression that day and I knew it. It is why I paint...just for that feeling.

How about you?

Catch my class Wednesday mornings or my First Friday Atelier Day at my studio.

Email me for details johanna@johannaspinks.com