Something Old

I took this figure study out of it's old frame today to reframe it for an upcoming figurative show at Aucocisco Gallery. I will also be showing my new portrait, Greta's Dark Self. This drawing is titled Matthew, and I drew it at a figure study group at The Academy of Carlo Pittore in the late fall of 1988. I chuckle at the word Academy: Carlo's studio was in a dilapidated old chicken barn. Never the less, we worked very hard there! The upcoming show is titled In the Spirit of Carlo Pittore, in honor of Carlo's birthday, May 14th, and a percentage of the proceeds will go to The Pittore Foundation which issues grants to figurative artists. Bowdoinham artist Susie Drucker and I are the curators, and we are both old friends of Carlo, who died in 2005.

Couples Portrait Progress

Worked in my new studio yesterday afternoon, using the photo references to furthur resolve this couples portrait. I still have a ways to go, but it's shaping up. I'm loving working in my new space!

More Marathoning...

Twin brothers sitting for a portrait at Aucocisco...

Another set of brothers sitting for a portrait in my family room....

...while their mother graces us all with music from her gorgeous harp!

I am still offering gift certificates for one hour $100 dollar portraits until midnight tomorrow, December 24th! These can be redeemed at any time. Contact me at mmiller@meca.edu if you would like to order one, and I will e-mail it to you, pronto!

Happy Holidays, All!

Portrait Marathon, Cont'd...

Another Saturday afternoon spent making on the spot portraits at Aucocisco Galleries. This beautiful father and son were my second subjects of the day. I drew twin brothers for my first appointment. Their Mom took some pictures and promised to send me some, so I can post about that sitting soon.

Whew! I try to get as much information as possible in under an hour...it's a challenge! I always want to hang onto the drawings and work more on them, but the speed and seeing what unfolds is part of the fun.

Renee with Turban

Renee with Turban, 2011
mixed media on paper, 22" x 30"

The stunning Renee Johnson modeling for my Mixed Media Portraiture class.

Amazing Muse

Scenes from my summer Mixed Media Portraiture class yesterday morning at MECA, starring Robert SanGiovanni; imaginative, spontaneous model extraordinaire! We're off to a fun start...

Thursday Night

Michael Welch Self Portrait with Super Moon, pastel on paper (homework assignment) Robert SanGiovanni

For four color exercises, I had the students first do a warm study,

and a cool,

then a dark,

and a bright. (figure studies by Michael Welch)

Pics from last week's Thursday night Life Drawing class at MECA, featuring the drawings of one of my students, Michael Welch. That's his self-portrait in the top pic - fabulous, eh?

Sunday School on Tuesdays

I've been teaching Mixed Media Portraiture to private group of painters on Tuesday mornings at a church in Falmouth. We take over the Sunday School classrooms. As Paul Simon exclaims, Good Gracious, could this be my luck? If that's my prayer book, Lord let us pray!