Adam's Portrait

Adam Wriggins at Sixteen, 2012

mixed media on Rives BFK, 22" x 30"

Last Friday I did this portrait of Adam Wriggins in my studio. He sat for about an hour and a half. His Mom, Marian Baker, gave him a gift certificate for this portrait as a Christmas gift. I did portraits of Marian and her older son Dan a couple of years ago out on Little Cranberry Island where they spend their summers, and where my daughter Kaitlyn lives year-round with her husband Cory. My husband and I are heading out there tomorrow to spend a few days enjoying the island in late winter mode!

Couples Portrait Progress, Cont'd...

Almost there. I still have to resolve the lower right hand corner - Pat's sweater and sleeve - and fine tune some areas of the whole piece. Pat and Tom sent me a few photos of a beach in Maine that they love, and I chose one to incorporate into the background...

Sisters Three

Chris Beneman with her daughters Sarah, Kate, and Lisa.

Yesterday afternoon I had the great pleasure of drawing this beautiful trio of sisters, whose Mom wanted to catch them together while they were all home for the holidays, before the older two have to head back out of state and return to school. They sat for about an hour and a half as the sun went down. A triple treat to draw!!!

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!

A Couples Portrait

I started this commissioned couples portrait last weekend. Old friends Pat and Tom Heslin were staying at their weekend home in southern Maine (they live in RI) and drove up the coast in an ice storm Saturday morning to be the first to sit for a portrait in my new studio! Unlike the recent marathon portraits, this piece will be more finished, and will require more time. Ahhh, the luxury of time! There is something freeing and fun about setting a time limit and working fast and furious, and there is something calming and satisfying about taking my time. Both ways of working are valid and yield different results.

Pat and Tom sat for 2 hours, and I took a bunch of pictures as references to work from. I've worked this way before, some examples: here, here, and here...and am becoming more comfortable with relying on my memory and the photos to resolve a portrait. I may ask them to sit one more time, we'll see.

Pat and Tom are going to send me some images to integrate into the portrait - possibly photos of the shore. I have started to sketch in a bouquet that is in my studio, and the horizon over the river out my studio window. This will most likely all get buried. It will all morph and change, and here I offer you a view of the beginnings.

Process, process...

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 at Aucociso

A busy afternoon @ Aucocisco Galleries yesterday! I'll be doing this again next Saturday, the 17th! Thirty minute portraits for $100, $150 for couples or a family of three. Gift certificates availble at this sale price until the 24th, redeemable at any time. E-mail me at mmiller@meca.edu.

A Real Steal December Deal!

Tomorrow, December 10th, and next Saturday, the 17th, I will be doing on the spot portraits @ Aucocisco in Portland from noon - 5pm. A great gift idea! $100 for a 30 minute sitting, $150 for a couple or family of three, and you get a 22" x 30" mixed media drawing on Rives BFK, ready to frame or hang as is. Gift certificates also available until December 24th. E-mail me at mmiller@meca.edu for an appointment!

Visiting Artist

My grandniece, Anna DeMetrick, with her sculpture, Miss Vegetarian.

photo by Anna

Auntie

photo by Anna

Jumpin' Jack Flash (her brother)

photo by Anna

Momma (my niece, Rebecca DeMetrick)

Auntie doing a portrait of Anna...

portrait beginnings...

I'm heading south to RI for a few days, then back north to Little Cranberry Island. See you back here in about a week! Enjoy these late August days!