Today I worked on the three and one half inch high portrait of my youngest daughter. I developed a three dimensional effect on the skin, modified the hair, reset the position of the eyes and teeth and buffed lightly. It is much more difficult to keep the skin tones smooth in tiny portraits than in the larger ones. My doctor prescribed a mild med to help with my tremor but I forgot to take it so I was trying to compensate for that as I worked. Even so, the likeness is exciting. I went into this project with only moderate expectations but I am very pleased with the way they are turning out. My attitude is, ‘If you want to do something you have never done before, just pray, and then try it! You may be pleasantly surprised!’
Category Archives: Blog
Noon to five thirty
Well, one thing for sure is this, if you want time to go quickly, oil paint seven portraits at one time! I worked on all but one of these today. That one needed to dry. It is fun to see these tiny miniatures of my family sort of take on life as the days go by. I just never get to the other things because I am drawn to this. Well, I don’t need a new outfit sewn anyway because this virus keeps me from socializing. I did water my orchids and I did go to the doctor yesterday.now I will go try to miraculously whip up a delicious supper. Hugs to you all, Shalom, DIANA
How does the time go so fast?
I’m sorry my posts are so short but it is six twenty and I have not begun our dinner. I worked on this most of the day and can’t believe it is so late. The likeness is good, I’m happy with it, hope Mollie likes it. I must still modify the skin tones some. Tomorrow I may show you the magnifying glasses I bought after I started these. They are fabulous! Blessings to all.
A Small Diversion
I needed a break from the birthday painting so I brought out these miniatures that I started at least five years ago. They are my husband and myself and our five daughters. I have wanted to do these for longer than I have been painting. I bought the first set of frames before I had ever lifted a brush and found the second set at an antique store. After I chose the images and began the work, it proved to be too difficult because of the tiny work and my tremor. About a year ago I ordered a gadget I saw on line that works like binocular glasses. The vision is wonderful. My doctor prescribed a medicine to aid in calming my tremor. I don’t use it for regular work but for this, it really helps. There is something about these images as a group that makes me really happy. I hope I can complete them each with a good likeness and artistic skill. The hours fly by when I work but more so with this miniature challenge. It must be some sort of time warp. Enjoy your painting. Diana
So thankful
Yes, it is time to begin supper so I must stop my work in the studio. I am thankful I can still get upstairs to the studio, that I can enjoy a full afternoon allowing my brain to float around in this zone of creative wonder and that I still have food to prepare for a nourishing and yummy dinner with my husband. HalleluYah! Now if I can just get this photo to publish. Blessings to you all. Diana
Camera is like an X-ray
I’m sitting in my chair studying this painting from across the room, about six feet.I have darkened all but have not finished this layering. This dark chiaroscuro type surface is just like the last one; in person, the darks are obscure and solid but the camera seems to look right through them. I do enjoy a painting with atmosphere and this one certainly has it. There is still a lot of work to do yet. The table will get color, detail and shadow, there are birthday cards on the corner and candle reflections. I am satisfied with the shape and proportions of the plate but those details are still to be added. Then the colorful candles, the icing and the candle light. There are layers of skin tone, color glazing and highlights and also color and detail in the hair. I forgot to mention adjusting the layers of the dresses. So, even though this is looking close to being finished, it is far from it.
I am still waiting to have last tests to clarify this rare genetic disorder that has caused me a lot of misery for longer than I care to think about. Then a relatively simple laparoscopic surgery should give me relief. I’ll keep you posted. Every thing seems to go so slowly. I’m just grateful to have some answers. I hope you are enjoying this portrait. Shalom, Diana
Changes to my site and this painting
Last evening I spoke with a technician from WordPress, trying to unravel my frustrations with the site every time it is updated. I must say, this sweet woman was very helpful. I am not technologically savvy but she helped a lot and calmed my frustrations from far away in New Zealand! You will see that when you press blog, you will get a drop down that says Today’s Notes. I have also added a few images to the gallery. Maybe soon, I will be able to set up a way to browse through all the portraits I enter.
So for today’s notes, I will briefly tell you that I made a big adjustment to the scalloped cake plate in this birthday painting. I could not get it to look uniform and balanced. There will be a lot of correcting to do in order to cover what I had previously painted and return the table to a natural wood grain appearance. I try never to let mistakes throw me because this is all part of the process. This painting is beginning to get the glow and warmth of the candle light and the mood of the evening birthday celebration. The deep darks are a challenge. I will learn a lot from this experience if I am successful. I hope people feel joyful and content when viewing it. Shalom, Diana
Slow Going
I started this post two hours ago and then I got on the phone with my girls, reporting about the medical procedure I had yesterday. Still unable to identify the cause of the pain I was experiencing for months. The good thing is, I went on a liquid diet for two weeks and when I went back to solid foods, my pain level was way down. I have to see the greatest doctor in Pittsburg next week. If I said his name, I am sure many people would recognize it. He saved my daughter’s life two years ago. He did a stomach surgery on me so he has agreed to consult on this problem.
I am slowly proceeding with the work in progress. I hope to get back to the miniatures of my family this winter. But already it is almost the solstice and the summer sun will be on its way back. (In the middle of our first blizzard I am trying to think positive.)
I will now try to insert a new photo. Let’s see if it gives me any trouble. I’m not the best with technical stuff.
I actually think I got a new photo inserted. With this new program it does not show up until I publish it. With the old one i could see it right away. I will say about this image that it promises to be a special one. I have only painted one other painting with this type of effect. The lighting is very descriptive and shows the mood of a fun evening birthday celebration. I am concentrating to get the festive atmosphere with the brightly lit candles, the promise of a bright future with the extinguished ones and the lingering smoky swirls and the subdued excitement of two sisters sharing each other’s moment of joy. It is so important to get the candle light just right. These are things that we, as artists, do not necessarily know instinctively. We go at it slowly so as to really observe and learn as we go. Enjoy. Shalom, Diana
A Covid Time
I am thankful I am working, thankful I am able to work. Everyone is staying confined to their homes except for rare and necessary outings. Bruce and I did not go anywhere for thanksgiving. Layer that week, two of our families began with covid symptoms. We believe both families were infected and tests will verify. One of the indicators is loss of smell and taste. Also my daughter and husband stayed in bed and slept most of the day. That certainly says something. They are doing ok but three of my grandchildren are now ill. They don’t live near us so we are not affected. I am facing a lot of medical tests so I don’t want to interrupt that schedule. I will fill you in as soon as results come in. That always takes a while. My pain was so intense and unbearable that I put myself on a liquid diet. I expected my doctors to have enough knowledge to relieve my pain. I asked repeatedly for help but when they had no suggestions, that is when I cut out solid foods. I went twelve days and then started with some mild, soft foods. I seem to be ok now, just slight discomfort. Anyway, I am painting when I am too tired dipping chocolate. I.ve been doing that about a week. I did not make any last year. Ummm, it is so good. I do not celebrate pagan holidays but winter is the only good time to make chocolate. It stays nice in the freezer. I’ll post a photo. Also I will get an image of the birthdate subject I am working on. Blessings to you all..
This one is a challenge
Here we go again. I cannot find a prompt to upload my photo. I guess I will write this paragraph and then see if I can find the edit for it. This image is of a scene I love. I chose this particular shot because of the lighting. When finished it will be lit only by candle glow. I like to have a good foundation and then layer glazes to obscure it. That way, the painting will retain the depth of dimension that you would perceive with your natural vision in a darkened room. Of course when light is reduced, so is vision. This is what I will try to portray. It is the lighting that will draw viewers into the work, into the subject and into the art.
It has been a while
I thought I would add a short note to tell you that I have been occupied with a health concern, trying to get answers to this problem. I have had increasing pain through out the summer but in September I called for an appointment to consult my doctor. Over the next several weeks, meds and tests, we ruled out the normal back and body pain and concluded that this extreme pain is in my gut, not my stomach. There have been a number of theories as to what is causing the pain but none have proven to be correct. No doctor was able to offer any help for the pain, which was totally debilitating, so I put myself on a liquid diet, then on pureed foods for about eleven days. When I finally had the courage to eat a regular meal, the pain had subsided and was tolerable. Something must have healed. I am still looking for answers.
I have not gotten much done on my painting. Doctoring takes a lot of time and energy and I haven’t felt well enough to paint. I am doing a little now and will try soon to upload a photo. I hope to work this year on the miniatures and a couple of other projects that are not finished. I have lost interest in shows. Covid has taken away our right to gather and the social events are canceled. I miss my friends. I want to get myself more motivated and get back to a regular routine of painting every day. I am coaching two portrait students and it helps our psyche to be together.
So for now, I wish you good art and good health. I will get back into a schedule soon. Till then, shalom. Diana
Modify, correct
The photos almost see through the paint to the under layer. It does not look this transparent in person. I will do another layer and modify the flesh. Also I want to darken the hair a little, especially the lower areas not in light.
one thing I am particular about in my portraits is the depth and suppleness of the flesh. I remember when I painted Plimoth Wife, the old ladies skin tones took a lot of work. It will be the same here and the camera emphasizes it. I know that the layering helps but it is also a matter of coming up with the right paint mixture. Everything in the light looks good. I just cannot allow the shadows to seem so rough. Often, when looking at museum portraits, I see this unfinished shadow area. To the untrained eye, it may all work, but I expect it to be better. I hope I can achieve what I am looking for. And we know the saying, ‘I’ll know it when I see it.’ Diana
Getting close
don’t have much time to post but I wanted to get you all up to date on this work . I am almost finished. I may do another layer of flesh and also glaze in some rich cheek pinks, a little more on the hair, just some darks, I think. Till then, stay well.
Today’s reality
When this painting sits downstairs on my fireplace, it glows. A portrait that looks so simple, is simply NOT. I began with the desire to capture, of course, the likeness. But also I wanted the expression and the strong moody light. I felt that this is what would captivate the viewer. I was visiting my daughters recently so missed some posts. You can see that I am working on hair and eyes. I am still not satisfied with the shadows in the face. This area has not jumped over that depth threshold. I will keep working.
During the summer of 2019, most of us were unaware of the looming tragedy that was hanging like a storm cloud above us. Since then, our world has changed. Just look at the little face masked toddlers with their parents. Do any of us think about the drastic changes in their routines. Or even how many more are hungry or frightened. I am convinced that our ‘leaders’ have made unwise decisions. Even now I read more are still dying from flu than the virus and no one quarantines for that. Since when have we ever quarantined the healthy and caused devastation in whole societies. Of course this is a pandemic threat but I believe we are not applying ancient practical wisdom in this dire situation. Don’t allow the media to dictate our responses. Let’s return to common sense. Care for our families, protect others, avoid violence or places where violence is predictable. Remain out of public places if you believe you are exposed. Love and continue to do art if possible. Pray. Keep your eyes open and your mind alert. May you be blessed. Diana
You just want to touch it
I have added another layer of flesh with cool purples and warm reds. I have added some careful touches to the eyes and yet they will take a lot of work to be right. I hope to work more on the hair tomorrow. The light in this one is so real.
Starting to glow
I am rushing to finish. I don’t have time to say much, I just wanted to let you seee the updated work. Hugs
Only a skin layer and an earring
In my photo library, these shots are together, side by side. I wish I could show you four or five like that. It really emphasizes the changes. The light shows brighter in person. The skin color needs some adjusting. The eyes will get form and lashes and shadows. Then the hair which is only suggested right now. I probably won’t rework the hair until the flesh is finished. Shalom, Diana
Light even in the shadows
it may not seem like there is a change but the details are suggested. It is like placing a guide line. You may not want a bold mark but you can proceed better if you know what is ahead.
Blotchy
Following the patterns of light and shadow that I established I now begin to add the flesh coloring. I have applied a transparent half paste mixture of a flesh tone that will head in the right direction for this child’s skin color. I mix flake white and Naples yellow light to use to modify and mold the face. It is more like carving or molding clay than painting. I lay in the light, allowing the flesh tone to remain darker in the shadows. Later I will glaze the rosy tones and the darks. This achieves a depth and suppleness to the flesh. Oh, yes. I always tell my students that it will remain blotchy until several layers have been applied.
Additional instruction
When an artist spends days making marks on canvas, that seems simple. No spectator sees or hears the decision making that goes on in their brain and neither could they have any concept of the visual study that must be done to capture likeness and spirit with paint, texture, color and value. After a days work I bring a portrait to my living room where I will spend several hours intermittently studying from across the room. I analyze. I search for necessary corrections. I virtually modify. I decide on improvements. Right now I am marveling at the illusion of soft fabric in the first painting layer of a sleeve. I am thinking and planning what can be the spotlight of a portrait; the eyes. During the time I have devoted to perfecting the portrait, I have come to understand the way light flows across the cheek, I have learned that the line of the mouth is critical to achieving a likeness and I have fallen in love with the message in the eyes. Every stroke is thoughtfully placed the same way an author or a poet creates a mood with words. The sense of accomplishment is fulfilling and it is the force that propels me to the next painting.
This is the stage
where it looks wrong. I always hit this mark. Everything is a block in, only half done. There are so many things to do and I want to do them all NOW! It is when we feel this way that we must slow down. Take the time to do it right. So many artists get in a hurry and that is how they mess it up. Patience!
Don’t get discouraged
Here is where many get frustrated and discouraged and yet I tell my students to enjoy the part where they get to slowly build a masterpiece. A wonderful portrait is not laid down on canvas with a slash and dash formula. It takes a lot of patience and planning to make this look effortless. Today, after a long morning in the garden, thankfully with a strong willing helper, I came to my work in the studio. Upon careful examination and thought, I decided to lighten and brighten the background. I put some planning strokes and first layer of color into the sleeve and neckline of the dress. I even whited out the background to extend the front edge of the dress to make it hang in a more natural way. I carefully plotted out the curls. The artist must decide if she wants the hair impressionistic or more realistic. For this one I am going for realism. Then I studied the line, just the line where the lips touch, and refined the drawing. Don’t let the eyes fool you. Work on perfecting them touch by touch, stroke by stroke. Build them up layer by layer. They can be the most beautiful part of a portrait. Don’t use heavy dark paint in the beginning or you will loose your opportunity to correct and perfect them. This child has wonderful features and I am aiming to capture the look of wonder and mystery in her gaze. Happy painting. Diana
Applying skin
here I have mixed a half paste of transparent idea gell with titanium white and flake white. I paint it over the dried portrait, making sure it is covering all and deep into the linen pores. Then I take a soft fan brush and buff it until the portrait emerges. I want a good surface to work on. Then I use titanium full strength to reemphasize all the brightest areas and pay close attention to getting the likeness perfected. An artist must see forward and know what she is aiming for. I can’t work today because I have an eye appointment. Diana
Last week
Here is where I left off last week. If I have time today I will put another layer on the background to lighten it up and then I will apply a half paste of white to the flesh. This creates a simulation of skin over the structure of the face. Also, I will make corrections on the eyes and hair outline. Hope I get that all in today, but first I must send in digital entry to the Allied Artist’s show.
Refining the light
today I refined the area of light. This will take place on a daily basis but sometimes it will be subtle and hardly noticeable. It really helps to define the likeness as well. It is not an easy task to help the viewer see what I see. Those big eyes will be somewhat subdued by shadows and other features that cannot go in till later. I am going to try a first layer of a medium olive green background to enhance her bright blond hair. If I have time, I will post again later. Diana
Establishing the light
I will copy and paste if I am able to.
Ok, I didn’t get that screen shot cropped before I posted it, sorry. I just want to add some notes for you portrait artists. In this first photo I have transferred the drawing. I had several reference photos and I combined them without computer, that is, I just made the changes with pose to put together the light, position of face, body angle and hair. I had a lot of smudges from the transfer because of the heat today and condition of my painting mixture. I just used Windsor Newton artists oils and some extra linseed oil. I just used a dry brush to move the paint around and a quip or two to remove some. Then I applied the white straight to the canvas and made it thinner or heavier by manipulating the pressure and amount of paint. After I refined all the painted areas, I buffed it smooth with a fan brush. The paint dried way too fast in this heat. I will let it dry now and then I will probably apply a thin color was to get a background color started. I must adjust the eyes a little. They aren’t quite right. Till next time. Diana
Covid Block
Well, I have heard of Writer’s block and Artist’s Block but this is different. Usually nothing interrupts my creative motion. Actually for me and my husband, this quarantine didn’t change much of our routine. So here we are, with nothing but time on our hands. Even so, I find myself sitting at my easel not motivated to put any mark down. I am feeling like nothing I want to paint is good enough. So I find an area of the painting that isn’t too important and I do that for a couple of hours. Maybe the back ground or maybe an arm or a piece of clothing. The next day, the same thing happens. Of course, I am also having my schedule messed up by other people’s difficulties and I feel driven to make a lot of phone calls to encourage loved ones or help one of my kids with something. It just seems like months are going by without much accomplishment. Even worse, when I look at the work I have finished, I am just not happy with it. This is not normal. Now, I am getting irate. I am angry at the bad choices made by people in power and I am frustrated about my constitutional rights being trampled. Not only that but I am horrified at what is going on with people of all races. We have lost our dignity and we have no trace of morals in the actions and events taking place. It is good that every once in a while we learn of someone who has acted with human kindness and decency. Not only is violence and pestilence hurting people, now we are suffering depression too. I am encouraged by those who are beginning to say NO to all this, standing up for reason and calmness in such a bad situation. I am also appalled by how far back we have fallen in our society. Have we actually chosen lawlessness? I must put my faith in Yah, And I must count on the prevailing goodness of the majority.
As things begin to open up, art events are again being planned. I have made choices of pieces to show and Bruce and I have picked out framing material. Of course, I should have expected another wrench to be thrown into the works. Here I am, working away on a portrait that I am not happy with, trying to get it finished in time for one of these shows and I get this impulse to start an impossible task!! There is an image of a huge rocky vista in Argentina where my daughter and her friend visited just before we learned about this virus. My daughter and her friend are in the forefront, both looking amazing with this monumental landscape behind them. I have TWO WEEKS, JUST TWO WEEKS, till the show entry date. I cannot resist. I go into marathon painting mode and my husband volunteers to cook supper every night for those two weeks. I have always taken months to complete paintings. But, yes, I got this done. And entered. I will show you an image but the photos are on my ipad so I will have to put them up on another blog entry. Well, let me check to see if there is an image in my photo gallery on my computer.
This is 42 inches across. I hope people enjoy it. It is entitled, ‘Argentina- Our Amazing Journey. It is not only about the journey to a new country, but about the amazing journey of these girls friendship. It could be a movie. Hugs and love to all my artist and art admirers friends. Shalom, Diana
Diana Williams Portraits 
