Inspired by Game of Thrones

The new season of the cult series just started. I can't say that I am a huge fan of Game of Thrones, but I do glance at the screen now and then, when GOT is on. Look, I even used the abbreviation  like a pro :D

One of my biggest challenges in painting is to choose a subject. That probably is the reason why I like doing commission work ;) - the subject is provided beforehand!

Alla prima painting of Khaleesi.
16 x 16 cm
Oil on canvas.

You might notice that this portrait is some what similar to the one in the previous post. First- it's the same size and second - I used the same color palette. This size is very unusual for me actually, but I am enjoying it- as painting can be finished in one session within 3h.

Here is a time lapse video of first part of the painting process: https://youtu.be/hZrAQRxVZbA

Happy paintings for cancer support

This is a follow up project from "Horse painting for cancer support" - I would like to have it as an ongoing project. Don't You think that would be awesome!

The paintings that can be seen on this page are the ones, that are available for purchase through the project. From every sold painting I would donate 50% of sales price to CANSA - The Cancer Association of South Africa (http://www.cansa.org.za/).

Why cancer support?

Since my family has been battling the cancer, I hear more and more people fighting or fought cancer- everyone knows someone that has cancer!? This clearly is a big issue in today- if we work together we can make a difference. Donating to cancer cause is my choice, if You would like to donate from a purchased painting to a different charity, please let me know :) I donate through http://www.givengain.com/. Info on previous project & donations.

Why call these "Happy paintings"? 

1. Painting them made me happy,

2. they hopefully will make the person purchasing the painting happy and

3. the donated funds will make whole lot of people dealing with cancer happier

Just thought its a nice reason to call them "happy paintings":)

LET'S SHARE THE HAPPINESS AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!

• All paintings are fully hand painted in acrylic or oil on canvas;
• All prices are provisional and negotiable. Provisional price can be seen below the painting, 50% of the paid price will be donated. Price excludes shipping and delivery costs. 
• If You would like to buy a painting or have any questions, please contact me on email or phone. 

Large horse 3,
Acrylic boxed canvas, 91x76cm,
R3000

Bob Marley
Acrylic on stretched canvas, 100x80cm
R2000 

Happy
Acrylic on boxed canvas, 91x76cm
R2000

White horse
Oil on canvas board, 40x50cm
R700

Angel
Oil on canvas board, 50x40cm
R800

Baby girl
Oil on canvas, A3
R700

Profile
Oil on canvas board, A3
R500

Little girl
Acrylic on canvas, A3
R300 

Arabian
Acrylic on canvas, 60x50cm, framed in white frame
R700

Horse painting for CANSA donations

I have to say the biggest THANK YOU to Alicia, who bought "Cancer horse" and enabled me to donate funds to CANSA - The Cancer Association of South Africa (http://www.cansa.org.za/). The donation has been made through GivenGain (http://www.givengain.com/cause/1056/) and was half of the amount of paintings selling price. The other half of the money was used to support the painting give away project .

This is what Alicia wrote:

Dear Ritma,

I have looked at this painting so often. I dream of it. Your talent comes from your heart. God put it there.

I come from a very large family. I am 67 years old now. We all came together at one of the family homes over weekends, and sang songs and danced. We were a very happy lot. There were about 79 of us when I was born.

There are now 4 cousins left. Everyone, barring my Own Mother, and Father and my Grandfather died of cancer. I give to all Cancer Fighting Causes....as much as I can. I have added Hospice too, as my father died recently, and without hospice’s help my poor mother would and could not care for him alone at home. He died of Sepsis, after he fell off the bed at the hospital...went for one night for tests. Was left on the floor for 3 hours with only his night shorts on. He had the bell in his hand, but it did not work. He had a heart attack, a stroke and eventually fell into a coma. He died in agony. And the day before he went to hospital we all went out for lunch as so many times before. He made us laugh all afternoon.

My shop Malaika, is opposite the Builders Warehouse. This painting is going to hang above my bed....till the day I die.

Alicia

What a sad story:(. I don't know Alicias' family, but that must be an awesome family, to make Alicia in a wonderful person she is today!:)

Here are some more links from Alicia, if You feel like donating:
http://www.pinkdrive.co.za/
http://www.mrc.ac.za/cancer/cancer.htm
http://www.cancerbuddies.org.za/donations
http://childrenshospitaltrust.org.za/red-cross-war-memorial-childrens-hospital-2/
http://www.stlukes.co.za/

1st give away portrait painting

Heiya!!!

Here we go! the first give away portrait is done. I'm so excited and eager to see what the reaction of the receiver will be... I really hope she likes it. I titled this painting "In moms arms":)

oil portrait, A3

The portrait will be a surprise gift from an amazing friend to the receiver. I have never met or spoken to the people in this portrait... I hope that this post is not going to spoil the surprise... well, what are the chances that someone that knows the person in the picture accidentally stumbles upon my blog? In case it actually happens, please let me know:)))
 
 Read more about give-away project: http://ritmart.blogspot.com/2014/03/painting-give-away.html

To order a portrait, please visit www.portraitartist.com for more info:)

What it costs to be an artist - business plan:D

I recently see the posts about artists being asked to give away their art- be it paintings, music, written etc... so I found myself "playing with the numbers in my head".

This is a very primitive estimate about what is needed if You would like to take up painting:)

1. Computer, lets say we can pick up a basic laptop at R5000.  Computer is an essential as it is used to communicate with the clients and to see the reference photos. One can argue that it is possible to do all of that in internet cafe- well, it is, but I find laptop much more handy. And lets face it- printing in color these days cost quite a bit... especially if You need the same reference photo in different varieties. I tend to increase/ decrease color value quite a bit through the process- to understand the picture better;
2. Internet- again, can be used in internet cafe, but much easier to focus when one is at home. And if you are like me who like to paint at night- it is irreplaceable! I use about R150 a month in internet; 
3. Camera/ cell phone- to take photos and share your work. I would guess that R2000 shall do, if You don't have one already;
4. Paints - I would guess that about 20 colors should be enough to start with. I have about 35 tubes of acrylic paint and about 30 tubes of oil paint. Let's imagine you want to paint in oil paint. On avarage a tube of 50ml oil paint would cost you between R 45-70. You would by 20xR45= about R900
5. Brushes - the price on brushes is very variable, starting from as little as R5 for the small ones. 10 brushes would be a good start, R20 per brush = about R200;
6. Other materials like: as turpentine, linseed oil, detail, drying mediums, glazing, palette paper - just the basics would come to R600;
7. Canvas - of course the art will have to be painted on something... now this is hard to predict as it really depends on each individuals choices... An A3 stretched canvas costs about R50 (this is the one that does not need framing and can be hung as is). lets say You would use 2 in a months= R100
8. Easel- one should be able to find a free standing easel or easel-box for about R600
9. Website- well, this is not essential, but is nice to have:) self designed and private domain would can be found from as little as R100. 
10. Talent and painting classes- this really depends on each individual and can not be priced. 
11. Space and time- if You really wnat to paint, You will find it!:)

SO, what do we have here?

This all comes to R9650 + TALENT + Space & Time:)

The nice thing is - some of the items all of us already have at home and others can be bought one by one:) LET'S PAINT!!!

What do I need to start painting?
PS The cat and coffee optional :P

YAY!

All 3 give-away-paintings have found their homes! I'm so EXCITED!!! Well, I still have to paint them :) More info will follow on the blog.

But for now- my latest painting:

oil on canvas, A3

Rose

People keep telling me to paint still life and flowers, here is an attempt:)

Oil on 22x30 inch boxed canvas.