A Bishop Gets Painted.

Shipping out today from my studio. I am honored to have painted Bishop William Alexander Guerry for a Southern Church. Bishop Guerry was a reformer and martyr. His life was cut way too short when he was killed for his beliefs about including minorities in the church.

I am indebted to my portrait hero Phillip De Laszlo once again. I look at his work so much these days. Check out this old Master.
https://www.delaszloarchivetrust.com

Bishop William Alexander Guerry
By Johanna Spinks

Zenday Best

Every day is Zenday when you get to paint beautiful muses. I love painting this lady. She is an artiste herself, and a wonderful singer. I just love her zenergy.

This was from my teaching class yesterday, now at my studio. Was thinking of Phillip de Laszlo who painted great 'red haired' people in portraits, especially his son.

 It's been a brilliant five weeks with some great work going on in the teaching room. Both figure and still life. New semester starting next Wednesday, drop ins welcome.

Only a couple of spots left, email me for details. johanna@johannaspinks.com

Phillip De Laszlo - My Portrait Hero

I feel so lucky I get to paint portrait commissions. Each time I do, I look to my favorite portrait painter of all time Phillip de Laszlo. Readers of this blog will have seem quite a few posts about him at this point. He has been very important to my progress and the art spirit keeps on reminding me that he is 'with me'.

For example this post by moi: dazzling-delaszlo

How I wish I could have met him.

Here is the link to everything Phillip De Laszlo www.delaszloarchivetrust.com

People have recently been asking me a lot how I get the 'transparent' look to my skin tone. What medium I use, etc.

Well, it is after many years of careful study of De Laszlo, that's how. Not that I wish to compare myself for a second to his genius.

This head and shoulder portrait of a 'miracle baby' is for a client on the East Coast. We went with a contemporary interpretation for it. The painting principles are however  deeply steeped in the past, especially with Phillip De Laszlo.

Join me at my summer workshop to find out more. July 8 -12th.

Some like it hot...Philip De Laszlo

Who doesn't like to paint a sassy red-head? I sure do. This was my class demo yesterday at TheCalifornia Art Institute.

I like wot I got. Tried to make as much use as I could of the red hot dried toned canvas leaving things as transparent as chiffon in places. I have recently been painting a lot on this warmer ground. For years I painted on a cool greenish or blue greyed ground and my eye got very used to it.

Some like it hot? Master portraitist Philip De Laszlo http://www.delaszloarchivetrust.com/certainly did and used this technique to great effect through most of his illustrious career. He is one of my to-die-for favorite portrait painters of all time.

The current Queen of England described him recently as a somewhat irritating little man recalling her memories of being painted by him from life at around seven years old. How I would have liked to be irritated by him. His portrait skintones were LUSH!!!

Now you can be irritated by me. LISTEN TO MY RADIO INTERVIEW this week WIH RON TUNICK'S THE BUSINESS OF LIFE SHOW HERE. Thanks Ron!

http://coachrontunick.podomatic.com/entry/2011-01-05T08_33_47-08_00