#66 Lamar - One Hundred Alla Prima Portraits of American Teenagers

                                                                             "Lamar"
(Teenagers are really concerned about) "Most teenagers are concerned about money and hanging out with friends." ( Some things that are important to you) "My family is important to me, and also my girlfriend.  My education is important to me."  (Advice for other teens) I would tell them to make sure you do well in school and go to college."


Lamar was a wonderful model. We all had a chance to eat pizza before the painting session, and it was nice to get a chance to know him a little.  A serious young man, his favorite subject in school is math, and he likes to play basketball.  Lamar is waiting to hear from the colleges he applied to, and wants to study engineering. He is one of 12 students I will be painting who are affiliated with the Urban Promise Academy in Camden, NJ. 

# 65 Ryan - One Hundred Alla Prima Portraits of American Teenagers

                                                                            "Ryan"

(Some things that are important to you) "In my life my Art is my passion.  My family is very important to me, along with my happiness and future goals."  (Advice for other teens) "I would always advice someone to be themselves, to find other people who accept you for who you are, and never compromise yourself."


I met Ryan at Studio Incamminati. He is very dedicated to his work and developing his skill as an artist, and is friendly and great to be around. 

# 64 Bryan - One Hundred Alla Prima Portraits of American Teenagers

                                                                            "Bryan"

(Teenagers are concerned about) "I feel most teenagers are concerned with their career choices due to the impact of the economy on their lives." (What do you think is the most difficult decision facing teens today) "The decision to drink or smoke or take anything...or not to.  the influence of drugs and alcohol is as an all time high."


This is painted on a cotton canvas, and while it doesn't look quite as nice as linen for a finished painting, I really enjoyed the dryness and the way the paint gripped. It was easy to show the plane transitions clearly.  Linen can be  slippery for alla prima work.  sometimes it just needs a second pass after the first pass dries. I have gotten arouond this most of the time by using lead white in the "tone" color. If you have followed this blog from the beginning, I know what you are thinking... 

# 63 Jaya - One Hundred Alla Prima Portraits of American Teenagers

                                                                             "Jaya"

(What do you think teens are really concerned about) "Teenagers are mostly concerned with school, and the fact that you need to have good grades but still try and keep up with your social life.  To have an equal balance of the two is kind of hard to maintain." (Advice for other teens) "Just be the real you.  Don't change who you are just to fit in, because if they don't accept the real you then they are not people you should be around."


Jaya's mom came in with her, the parents often do, and stayed through most of the painting session.  At the end, when she saw the paintings of her daughter, she became very emotional and cried.  I felt honored to have a chance to paint such a beautiful girl, and I'm not sure my painting does her justice, but if the portrait moved her mother like that, I know I have been successful. Sometimes perfectionism gets in my way, and I don't enjoy what I am doing as much as I should, and at times like this I am reminded of what is really important.  

# 62 Christian - One Hundred Alla Prima Portraits of American Teenagers

                                                                            "Christian"

(Advice for other teens) "Once you find something you really like to do,  just keep doing it even if you're not good at it."

#61 Caroline - One Hundred Alla Prima Paintings of American Teenagers

                                                                           "Caroline"
(Advice for other teens) "Live life to the fullest."  (Things that are important to you) "My family, school, my friends and sports are the four main things in my life."

#60 Madeline - One Hundred Alla Prima Portraits of American Teenagers

"Madeline"

(Teenagers are concerned about) "Teenagers are incredibly concerned with body and self-image today. We are very easily influenced...(Advice for other teens) Do your homework, know who truly is beneficial and important in your life and who isn't, speak what's on your mind. 

Below is a series photos of this painting in progress. I use the painting methods I have learned at Studio Incamminati, and adapt them to suit my needs. 

 

 The first stage is the "grisaille", a monochromatic underpainting of the model, using burnt sienna and ultramarine blue.  First I constructed the head with straight lines, and then blocked in the shadow masses.  If necessary, I wipe out and adjust the light shapes with a paper towel or brush. I really try to get the shapes correct at this stage, using a few lines to indicate the basic landmarks, and then go for the large, simple shapes. The canvas was previously toned with a grey ground.

 Next I like to indicate a color for the background, and try to communicate the effect of the warm light on the drapery.  This initial color gives my something to relate to, or "key" off of, when I start to lay in the skin tones. I try to keep the background painterly, knowing I can go back and simplify it with another layer of paint. I may use some stand oil or turp at this stage.

After the background I often put a color in for the clothing, again so I can use it to relate other colors to.   These initial colors are often easier to figure out than the skin colors, so its helpful to have them in first. Next I will lay in a skin tone for the light mass on the face, starting with a middle value. I have added a lighter value on top of that, for the lighter planes and highlights in the light mass of her face.

 Now I have gone into the hair and massed in the color, indicating the darkest values so I can get a sense of my full value range.  I don't think of individual strands of hair or details, I am just massing, indicating simple planes, and being careful to get the shapes.

 This photo of the finished painting was taken  under the warm artificial light.   I added  color to the darks of her skin, and developed these shapes, and added a few details around her eyes. The highlights have been put in. I added another layer to part of the background. The photo below of the finished painting was taken outdoors. Its amazing how different they are. All  the paintings in this series are done in 4 hours, so its probably closer to 3 1/2 hours after the breaks, and we always wish we had more time!  But its a good challenge and it has really forced me to get to what the essentials are.