My students ask, ‘How do you know what to do?’ I tell them, ‘Each image will tell you what it needs!’ This is a memorial portrait and I feel this image telling me exactly what it needs. You can call this God, the akashic record, intuition, whatever. But even songs have been written about it. Here eyes are looking off to my right but, no matter how I perfect the paint, she looks at me! I am honored, but even more, I am pleased to be doing this painting. I would love to finish it soon but I won’t rush it. Diana
Monthly Archives: December 2025
Busy week
I am working on the painting for a friend, it is progressing well. Tomorrow our portrait class is going to tour a collection of art in a local high school and then eat an early dinner. Tuesday, class, Wednesday, I finish preparing spaces for seven new windows. On Thursday I have a cardio appointment at a new location, same doctor. Friday, windows, Saturday, a gathering with Bruce’s friends from work.
In the process of preparing for two windows in my studio I made some assessments of the ongoing organization attempts for all the stuff an artist gathers. It truly surprised me that I have plans and sketches and canvasses in progress for more paintings than I thought. The photo references were stacked in several places so I never knew where to look when I needed them. I put my brain into gear and tried to be creative. Eventually I stumbled across what I hope will be the perfect solution. I ordered a wall hanging wire mesh file storage unit. Each of my projects will be in a file folder and only one or two will be stored in each compartment, so I should be able to find what I want without much trouble. I have moved canvases and other items and hope things will run more smoothly after these windows are in. For now, that is all. Be safe and well. Diana
For Tyler
Sometimes life gets hectic so I may think I have posted all the photos of each day’s work but then I realize, I worked daily without taking a photo! Darn! If you scroll back, you will finally come to the photo I took about three fourths of the way through. I was really surprised to look through my photos and they weren’t here! Sorry. Now I will upload the finished portrait so you can see that. Hugs you you all, G Gma.
Almost
William Adolph Bouguereau knew how to paint the human figure and beautiful flesh tones. Not just color, but radiance, light, plush, glowing, moist, flushed. I have never before painted a master copy but thought I should do this type of study before I cannot! My tremor is much worse and some days I just cannot accomplish what I see in my mind. Plus the fact that getting the cataracts removed makes it so very difficult for me as an artist. I’m told that I can no longer focus so why then does my vision go out of focus? Well, enough about that. I want to tell you that in all honesty, most of this project was not pleasant for me. I did enjoy the drawing, the grisaille, the many layers that brought this painting to my time and my reality. What I did not enjoy was this; when painting my own work, I place the marks with an artistic abandon but when making a copy where I am trying my best to stay true to the original, I found myself constrained to someone else’s choices. I was no longer placing the paint with instinct but instead with a rigid pattern. None the less, I am impressed by the beauty envisioned by Bouguereau and satisfied, even pleased with my ability to reproduce his vision. I am grateful. If you or someone you know would like to purchase this Master Copy please contact me by email at brucendiana@verizon.net.
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Diana Williams Portraits 