Artist Portraits Part IV

Alright, after much fussing with final prompt work, I managed to get around to Leyendecker. Here he is.
As I said, I greatly enjoyed working with oils again, as it has been months since my last dabbling. I hope to learn more in the future.

J.C. Leyendecker, Oils. Mairin-Taj Caya 2010.

Plein Air Painting With James Perry Wilson

I was recently introduced to the work of James Perry Wilson by my colleague Daryl Funck, and was rather intrigued by his articulate wealth of natural understanding; his work actually helped a rather immediate concern in one of my own projects. Being a life-time enthusiast of the outdoors with some training, I was happy to know of Wilson's painting. 
James Perry Wilson

Stage III, Capturing the West

After tackling many other prompts, I've managed to get to finished this. I think "finish" might still mean a tiny bit of fiddling, but that is as it should be with this sort of thing.

I am looking forward to the large scale watercolor, though! I plan to get to that stage over the break.

Capturing the West, revised drawing. Mairin-Taj Caya 2011.

Artist Portraits Part III

I have finished both the Lee and Leyendecker editorialized portraits, going back into both of them for corrections and such. Lee, I think, is fairly set. I have him here. Leyendecker requires a bit more fine-tuning, so he will be posted up shortly after Lee, once I feel good about it.

I had a blast working in watercolor on Lee. I was a bit apprehensive about getting it the way I wanted, as I have had annoyances lately with where my watercolor was going. But, through a several week period of philosophical and technical re-examination, and a brief re-freshment in my bout with oils on Leyendecker, I found my "zing" again and my watercolor direction is better.
Color reference for the face was key, for, while I can draw without too much reference, my color application is not yet strong enough to go it alone.
I have miles to go, but I think my application is more satisfactory and certainly in harmony with my drawing approach.

Artist Editorial Portrait, Alan Lee, Watercolor, 2010.

Leyendecker soon to follow.

Stage II, Capturing the West

I've sketched in a sort of "ghost" of foliage and landscape line for the Montana or Colorado inspired setting on this piece. Now I am working towards getting the wind-battered pines the way I want and firming up the horizon layers. Reference of geography and flora is key, as I have never been to the west. Some day.

Development, graphite, Mairin-Taj Caya 2010.