Alice Leggett Portraits and Fine Art

2012-01-15T14:21:00.000-08:00

Portrait Demonstration

For the 2nd Saturday Downtown Long Beach Art Walk at the ArtX studio on 3rd and Elm last night, I painted a portrait of my good friend, Luz Morales. I'll be conducting a Portrait Workshop there in the near future, so stay tuned! My next demonstration there will be February 11, for the Grand Opening starting at 6:00 pm. Please come over and say hello...

2012-01-09T12:52:00.000-08:00

Back to the Easel

I really have been working on this painting a lot since my last post - in fact, I feel like I'm in the home stretch now! Of course, the most critical part of the whole painting is the two little fishermen on the pier. There are a few more details, like the shadows under the pier and bridge, the addition of some red leaves in the background trees, breaking up that dark area behind the tree trunks, and painting the edges. OK, that's still a lot of work. When will I ever be able to estimate the time it takes to do a painting? Does anyone have a magic formula? Anyone?

2011-11-27T21:33:00.001-08:00

BRIDGE OVER PEACEFUL WATERS

A little stone bridge adds to the charm of this idyllic scene... keeping the color harmony in gold and lavender. You can see the stream beyond the bridge rippling along, with some reflection of the stones and flowers at its edge. Next will be the red mill house. The roof is done, but the rest of the house and water wheel await the magic brush.

I'll keep you posted!

Your Pet Portrait Opportunity!

2011-11-25T20:04:00.001-08:00

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY DEAL
NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 4, 2011

Save 20% on a Pet Portrait commission! Just $400 to you if you "LIKE" me on Facebook or FOLLOW me on Twitter, or CONNECT with me on LinkedIn, or SUBSCRIBE to my Blog. I will send you a message verifying your discount coupon. One lucky person will also WIN a Pet Portrait Giveaway! FORWARD this email to your friends, too!

HOW THE COMMISSION WORKS:

You'll send me your photograph, and I will send you the painting. One pet only. Maximum size 20" x 16" (unframed). This is a $500 value! (Sales tax will be added for California residents.)

How to have a Great day!

2011-11-22T08:08:00.001-08:00

Enjoy this beautiful video by Louis Schwartzberg, and have a great day:

Tustin Art League: November Meeting

2011-11-09T11:00:00.000-08:00

Tustin Art League: November Meeting: At our November meeting, Alice Leggett will do an animal portrait. Members should bring an 8" x 10" picture of their pet. Alice will pic...

Painting the Trees

2011-11-05T14:04:00.000-07:00

The background trees are started!

Using only the colors on the palette, I have begun the trees in the upper left corner. It feels good to paint with full bodied oils - no mediums - lots of paint on the brush and simple, multi-directional strokes that define the form. In this case, I used a Rosemary & Company Ivory Long Flat brush. Springy and easy to clean!

Under the Painting...

2011-11-02T17:27:00.000-07:00

...is the Underpainting! I like to cover the white of the canvas with the local color. Some of the underpainting may show through between the thicker brushstrokes of the final layer.

The paint is thinned with Linseed Stand Oil and Odorless Mineral Spirits. The drawing shows through.

Here's the palette mixed out with the colors from the gamut mask.

The colors on the palette from left to right:

1. Cadmium Lemon, Alizarin Crimson, Ultramarine Blue
2. Cadmium Yellow Medium, Cadmium Red Light, Viridian
3. Ultramarine Blue, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Yellow Medium
4. Cerulean Blue
5. Viridian
6. Sap Green, Alizarin Crimson

And Titanium White way up there at the top.

I put the tube colors away so I can stay within the color gamut. That's it for today!

On the Easel Today

2011-10-31T10:56:00.000-07:00

12x9 Color Study

I am getting started on the underpainting for "Mill Stream Fishermen," a 48" x 36" canvas which will hang in a dining room here in Orange County. I have done a composition in PhotoShop, and a quarter-scale color study. I've sketched the shapes on the canvas with thin paint.

Digital Color Wheel

Gamut Mask

Recently, I bought James Gurney's book, Color and Light. Following his guidelines on Gamut Mapping, I created a digital color wheel in Illustrator that mixes twelve colors with each of their complements to reach neutral gray in the center. I then placed a Gamut Mask over the wheel that limits the colors I will premix and use on the painting. The purpose of this is to create color harmony in the painting, and also stay in harmony with the surroundings where the painting will hang.

It will be fun to see how the painting progresses... stay tuned!

Why do We Love Pets so Much?

2011-10-27T10:19:00.000-07:00

Is it those eyes looking up at you with pure adoration? Or the warm softness of their snuggly body? I think we have a loving connection with our dogs, cats, birds (fill in the blank), as much as we do with our families. What do you think?
Learn to paint your pet: Pet Portrait Workshop

"From Heart to Art"

2011-10-26T16:37:00.000-07:00

Marley, 2010

I believe in magic. There is something intangible about creating a work of art that thrills my soul and brightens my day. Whether it's a commissioned portrait or a landscape, oil painting starts within and ends up on the canvas. That's what I mean by "from heart to art."
If you're an artist, I'd love to hear how you feel about your creative process.
If you are an art appreciator, what is it that draws you into a work of art?

Polar Express

2009-01-21T12:43:00.000-08:00

This portrait was done for a grandmother as a gift to her daughter. The two boys had experienced the Polar Express trip to the Grand Canyon, and this painting was designed to capture the fun.

It was great fun putting all the images together in PhotoShop, and changing things until we were both satisfied with the layout. Only then did the actual painting proceed.

Finished Window Awning

2008-12-19T15:59:00.001-08:00

Here's the finished window awning! It's going to look great over the window in the dining room at Jeannie's house. Now I am getting ready to paint the slider awning. It will be the same colors but a slightly different scene. The clear gesso is already applied, so next I will transfer the design to it and start painting!

Awning Progress

2008-12-18T16:13:00.000-08:00

The window awning is 3/4 of the way painted. It looks good from across the room. I like the colors and the loose technique with no blending. For this project, the acrylic paint is easier to use than oil would be.

Decorating the Awnings

2008-12-17T20:27:00.000-08:00

I have just started working on this awning project which will be installed indoors (it's really a valance that looks like an awning). The photo shows the left side of the 77-inch-wide window awning. There will be another awning of about the same length with a slightly different design for the slider. The acrylic paint dries very quickly! The scene is reminiscent of Tuscany, and the decor in the room reflects Tuscan style. I'll keep you posted on the progress...

Portrait of Markie Voyles

2008-12-17T17:06:00.000-08:00

This is a recent portrait I did for a friend of Markie's family. Markie was in a fatal car crash in October 2008, and her family was devastated. She was a rising track star at 17. The portrait means a lot to Markie's parents, and that is very rewarding for me. The angel appeared in the background while I was painting.

Welcome!

2008-12-17T16:55:00.000-08:00

I will be posting the latest developments, thoughts, observations, and oh yes, ARTWORK, in my world. You are welcome to make comments, and share this blog with others. I look forward to the new year, and communicating the 21st century way!

Artfully yours,
Alice Leggett