100 Portraits

What I learned.

A portion of the 100 portraits many have already been shipped.

This has been my longest continuous series to date. I started Nov. 1 and finished on Jan. 30.

Thank you all so very much for being an integral part of this project. Thank you, Janisse. (This was her idea.)

Some of What I Learned

This project has been like a crutch in some ways. For weeks in a row, I always knew what I was going to be painting. I never had to search out subjects to paint. However, my imagination was at slack tide because of that, except I was still able to decide whether to use a knife or a brush, and whether I would paint with lifelike colors or with wild colors.

Many people who sent me portraits wear glasses. I discovered that it was easier to paint the rims of glasses first, then to paint up to the rim of the glasses, rather than adding the glasses after the face was painted.

Although I always say it is not for me to determine whether a painting is good or bad, many times I would pick up a canvas I had already sketched out and wonder how I was going to make this painting come to some sort of life. By the time I finished each piece, I could see the vision I had when I had sketched it out. Sometimes there would be weeks between sketching a piece and painting it.

About one quarter of the way through the series, I realized that the real challenge was not going to be painting 100 portraits day after day, but how I was going to make some of the photos work. I had only made two requests: no teeth showing and no photos where the person was looking straight at the camera. Somewhere along the way, I was advised not to paint people with teeth showing.

Still, I received many photos like that. I received some photos in which I could not tell the color of a person’s eyes; I hoped I guessed correctly.

If people had sent only what I asked, I would not have had the experience of painting teeth and creating shadows where none existed. So that turned out to be good thing.

Now, when I am commissioned to paint portrait for someone, I will have some back-and-forth discussion on choosing a photo to work from. At least painting teeth is no longer a concern for me.

As I was finishing up the last of the portraits, even though my self-critical self was not always satisfied, I thought I could easily learn more by doing a thousand portraits. Probably—maybe I already do—will have a thousand portraits eventually. But I will not do this kind of series again, day after day painting one thing. I am excited to get back to painting a wide variety of subject matters.

Moving On

I am so very grateful for all the people who sent me photos to paint from. Thank you! When I started this, I did not envision painting only what people sent me; I assumed I would have to find other images to complete the project. At the end, I had to turn people away from this project.

Now I’ve used up all my 8x10 canvases.

I am always available to do portraits as commissions, in the size canvases that I normally paint.

Let Me Know

What are your thoughts on this 100 portraits challenge I took on?

🎨 Upcoming

I will be sending out emails to everyone who has not already contacted me regarding their portrait. Some people may not have seen the portraits I painted for them posted on Facebook. These emails will express my desire to get the paintings to you, as I have no way to store them. I haven’t decided on a deadline, but in a couple of weeks, I’ll send notices.

After that, the paintings will be discarded in some fashion.

🎨 This Saturday in Vidalia, Georgia

I am one of the artists in this show.

🎨 Late February in Savannah, Georgia

🎨 Late March Near My Farm in Southern Georgia

🎨 Early May Again in Savannah, Georgia

🎨 Thank You for Being Here

Thank you for being an Artsharp. I appreciate your support. I hope you’re having a great week, and I’ll see you next Wednesday. Don’t delay in putting pen to paper and making art out of your world.