Gisele From Paris...

Gisele
Oil on Linen Via Palette Knife
By Johanna Spinks
www.johannaspinks.com

Gisele from Paris came to my studio today and sat for my palette knife for about two and a half hours. What a joy she is. Hope I caught some of that here?

Catch my upcoming palette knife portrait show "Going Under The Knife" ...opening Friday April 1, 6-9 pm.
http://venturamuseum.org/upcoming-events/tool-room-gallery/

New Quickie YOU Tube

 A new quickie YOU Tube video of a palette knife portrait I just started in my studio for a client. Enjoy!

Don't forget my upcoming solo show...

"Going Under The Knife" By Johanna Spinks

An Exploration of Palette Knife Portraiture

Museum of Ventura County

Tool Room Gallery

@Bell Arts Factory

432 N. Ventura Ave.,

Ventura, California 93001

Please note this a satellite gallery, off Museum's main campus.

Opening Night, Friday April 1st, 6-9 p.m.

Show runs through April 30th

After reception, viewing by appointment only.

310 384 7029

www.johannaspinks.com

Just over two years ago, award-winning portrait artist Johanna Spinks decided to take a risk with her familiar paint brush: putting it down. In its place, she picked up a palette knife and began using the metal artist’s tool for her private, non-commissioned work in order to paint the people around her. Her upcoming curated show at the Museum of Ventura County’s Tool Room Gallery, entitled “Going Under the Knife," is sampling of this palette knife work. Much of this work was done from life sittings, depicting those near and dear to her and those who captured her heart on her travels through India, Europe and the high Sierras during this timespan. Johanna’s mentor and seven-time presidential portrait painter Everett Raymond Kinstler, N.A. describes her palette knife portrait work as "a refreshing departure and journey into creative portraiture”. 

Included in the show will be a large portrait of Ventura scientist and philanthropist 102 years'-young Howard Boroughs which was recently accepted into the permanent collection of the Museum of Ventura County. Johanna painted Howard in five life sittings at his home, an experience she holds most dear. 

One thing is for sure, the palette knife won’t be put down any time soon. 

A Selection of Palette Knife Portraits
By Johanna Spinks
Most painted from life.
www.johannaspinks.com

Going Under The Knife - Museum Show

"Going Under The Knife" By Johanna Spinks

An Exploration of Palette Knife Portraiture

Museum of Ventura County

Tool Room Gallery

@Bell Arts Factory

432 N. Ventura Ave.,

Ventura, California 93001

Please note this a satellite gallery, off Museum's main campus.

Opening Night, Friday April 1st, 6-9 p.m.

Show runs through April 30th

After reception, viewing by appointment only.

310 384 7029

www.johannaspinks.com

Just over two years ago, award-winning portrait artist Johanna Spinks decided to take a risk with her familiar paint brush: putting it down. In its place, she picked up a palette knife and began using the metal artist’s tool for her private, non-commissioned work in order to paint the people around her. Her upcoming curated show at the Museum of Ventura County’s Tool Room Gallery, entitled “Going Under the Knife," is sampling of this palette knife work. Much of this work was done from life sittings, depicting those near and dear to her and those who captured her heart on her travels through India, Europe and the high Sierras during this timespan. Johanna’s mentor and seven-time presidential portrait painter Everett Raymond Kinstler, N.A. describes her palette knife portrait work as "a refreshing departure and journey into creative portraiture”. 

Included in the show will be a large portrait of Ventura scientist and philanthropist 102 years'-young Howard Boroughs which was recently accepted into the permanent collection of the Museum of Ventura County. Johanna painted Howard in five life sittings at his home, an experience she holds most dear. 

One thing is for sure, the palette knife won’t be put down any time soon. 

Mark T.
By Johanna Spinks
20 x 24, via palette knife
www.johannaspinks.com

David Bowie...

I was in a retro nostalgia Bowie mood and invited the incredible @vnixie to sit for me today, via palette knife,  to capture that feeling. She is perfection, as was he. 

I was lucky to meet Bowie once, a long time ago. You could feel his presence in the room. Such a genius creator and innovator. 

Life is sadder with this legend gone but of course he is just with Major Tom. Back shortly. 

V-Nixie
By Johanna Spinks
Via Palette Knife
16 x 20"
www.johannaspinks.com

HeART Love Letter

Happy Valentines... and a little HeART  loveletter from my studio

readhere

Love Letter
By Johanna Spinks
Sold
www.johannaspinks.com

My Next Public Portrait Project

Leaving on a jet plane to start painting a new town with a new newspaper...excited. A week of sitters booked back to back. Face of Ventura with The Ventura Breeze Newspaper, Face of Malibu with The Malibu Times, The next Face of Of? Top secret but stay tuned - all will be revealed.

100 Years And Counting...

100 years on this planet teaches you a thing or two. Meet lovely blue eyed centenarian Bill Armstrong, my latest Face of Malibu sitter, featured each month in The Malibu Times. Thanks to all!

Read Bill's life story here:
here

Bill Armstrong
By Johanna Spinks

Painting Bill
Single Life Sitting
Photo courtesy of Diana Armstrong

Unsung Hero Portrait Series

Honored to have been commissioned to paint a series of "Unsung Heroes" for The Ventura Breeze Newspaper  by gracious Jordan and  Sandra Laby. Here is our fourth recipient Elizabeth Cornejo at her presentation lunch with the Labys. Single life sitting. Thanks also to ace publisher Sheldon Brown

Read Elizabeth's courageous life story:
here

Elizabeth Cornejo
24x18"
By Johanna Spinks
Single life sitting
www.johannaspinks.com

Presentation lunch with Elizabeth and series' gracious sponsors Sandra and Jordan Laby. Kindly appearing in The Ventura Breeze. 

Revisit...

It's amazing what a fresh start will do on a fresh day. I decided to revisit the life sketch I did of Shannon, see previous post, which I felt coulda, shoulda, woulda have been a whole lot better if only if...

I started it again, using the life sketch for reference,  painting it with a palette knife. I put it down much more as I wanted to say it.

Softer, cleaner more elegant lines, with some color play of yellows and blues, see palette I placed to the side of sketch with my trusted Province Blue made from Charvin which I inhale like smelling lavender.

Hope you like!

Malibu Pier
By Johanna Spinks
12x9"
For sale
here

Palette Knife Tantrums

Sometimes my palette knife has a mind of its' own but I guess that's half the fun of a life sitting wielding a knife however frustrating at times.

TY beautiful ArtModelShannon!

The Joys of the Palette Knife Life Sitting
By Johanna Spinks
Oil on Linen
www.johannaspinks.com

Freedom 58 Portrait Project

Hard to believe human slavery goes on every day while we drink our cappuccinos. This beautiful girl I just painted from Cambodia was luckily freed, hence my choice of the gold leaf butterfly. I also wanted to add a touch of her homeland adding the Cambodian sunset.

It is 30x40" via my palette knife painted for The Freedom 58 Project, a traveling portrait show,  highlighting awareness of this travesty. Can you do a portrait too to bring the world's attention to human trafficking and help stop it? If so, go here: www.freedom58project.com

You can also contact Bob via email at fsland@gmail.com

"Freedom Flys"
By Johanna Spinks
30x40"
via palette knife
Freedom58Project
www.johannaspinks.com

Pie Faced

"Holly's Apples"
By Johanna Spinks
Oil on linen board
9x12"
goheretopurchase

I once read somewhere you should learn to  paint apples really well  before you can even begin to think of learning how to paint a head. I think it was Helen Van Wyck, a deceased artist I admire for her teachings and books. I agree 100 per cent. There's a lot to be learned from the simple apple. This is a painting I just did back East when cold rain stopped landscape painting play. Sorry, I don't like to paint in the rain. We baked these apples in a pie right after recording them for posterity. You could say we were all pie faced by this point.

WANTED!

WANTED! The best red head in town. If you approach her, this songstress/muse is heavily armed with talent and dangerous to all life painters who tackle her. Do you know her? Life sitting this week - via my palette knife.

"Best Red-Head In Town- Mather"
16x12"
By Johanna Spinks
Palette knife
www.johannaspinks.com

"Sitting Pretty" Museum Portrait Show

Portrait of Howard Boroughs By Johanna Spinks


A touching ribbon cutting celebration today of The Evelyn and Howard Borough's Childrens' Garden at the Museum of Ventura County with Mayor Cheryl Heitman and garden collaborator Barbara Meister. -and of course the fabulous Howard Boroughs. I was so lucky to get to paint this brilliant man.

Thanks also to The Ventura County Star for its'  "Salon to Selfie" article this week featuring my portrait of Howard, currently hanging in the Museum's great "Sitting Pretty" portrait show.

Catch details of this fabulous portrait show here:
http://venturamuseum.org/current-exhibitions-3/

Think Pink.

Pink on blonde hair? Yes, I'm most certainly in! A life sitting this week of the lovely Susanna via my palette knife. A hit or a miss? Time will tell, but she sure was a pretty miss. I love getting as much color as I can into places that you wouldn't expect it. Like blonde hair.

www.johannaspinks.com

Single Life Sitting
Via Palette knife
By Johanna Spinks
www.johannaspinks.com

Under The Microscope?

Dr. Donna Nofziger Plank
Scientist.
Face of Malibu Sitter Number 34
Kindly featured in The Malibu Times
Story here




Under the microscope? You bet! Painting scientist extraordinaire Dr. Donna Nofziger Plank in a single life sitting, two hours,  for my Face of Malibu portrait project with The Malibu Times. Sitter number 34. Thank you both. 

The Dawn Of A New Day via Palette Knife

Dawn Of A New Day - Kim
By Johanna Spinks
Oil on linen via palette knife
All images copyrighted
www.johannaspinks.com

It has taken me a while to get this portrait on canvas with my palette knife. I met this beautiful young lady last year learning about her very inspiring life story which I can't share here but I am hoping my painting of her shows my depth of feeling for this outstanding young woman.

Kim is one of those types of people that teaches others through her life story more than she could possibly know. We started out with a life sitting and then my palette knife took over from there. It wasn't an easy flow, as often happens when you are so engaged in something as an artist, and want to get it just right.

I may still have a bit of tweaking to do but the story in paint feels mostly told. Thank you Kim.

Handsome And Then Some.

Salvatore
Oil on linen, via palette knife
By Johanna Spinks
www.johannaspinks.com

A great life sitting this week with the ever so handsome Salvatore. Such a classical face to paint. Yummy features and soulful eyes. When he walked in the room, I knew it was going to be a great few hours exploring his face with my palette knife. Hope you like.

The Best Kind of Day?

The Best Kind of Day
Johanna Spinks
oil on linen via palette knife

What's the best kind of day for me? A brand new model who is excited to be painted. And then painting alongside a good artist friend chatting while we go christening her lovely new studio. Via palette knife. Three hour sitting - ish.

Bliss...

Official Bishop Portrait Gets Unveiled Today

Charleston unveiling this morning... my official portrait of the Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina The Rt. Rev. Charles vonRosenberg, pictured below, with myself and his lovely artist wife Annie.

What a wonderful honor to paint this great man in a large painting that took me quite a while to paint. I feel so blessed to be a portrait artist doing what I love and meeting such great people who inspire me and so many others. 

The Rt. Rev. Charles vonRosenberg

Flying in for the unveiling with Bishop Charles vonRosenberg and his wife Annie