Granny Rose,

Background. The painting was ordered by my ex-colleague Robyn for her boyfriend Wouter who is my colleague now. The boyfriend usually takes over the shift when I go home after mine.

One day Robyn approached me and asked if I would be able to paint a portrait for Wouter’s birthday and I agreed. Her boyfriend, of course, would not know and the painting would come as a surprise.  It turned out to be a photo of Wouter’s late grandma – what fantastic idea! This, however made things a bit more difficult as the scanned photos that Robyn sent me were of a poor quality- e.g., did not provide enough detail for a good portrait painting. In paintings the more detailed is the photo, the better is he resulting painting.

Eventually we agreed that Robyn will give me the photos when she drops Wouter at work and I go home. This worked out well. The photo had Wouter and his grandma on it. I was able to take better digital photos and get more detailed information, although it was not great either.

Of course, I never got to meet the grandma, but she looks like a very cool one, like the ones that have loads of love, but does not take any nonsense too I could not go too much in details and thus used a loose painting style and kept to the soft colors. We also added the roses to the top as granny loved gardening and her roses especially. 

Since there was no need for the actual photo anymore, I decided to take it to work and give it to Robyn when I have a chance. It was my night shift and I had the photos in the book I was reading. As one can imagine this was not a good idea, as I forgot the book on the table. Someone knocked the book and the photos fell out! Wouter of course recognized the photos and the question was raised- why does Ritma have photos of you? :D

We had to pretend that Robyn borrowed be the book and the photos were in it originally. This was a bit awkward, but everything came clear after the painting was presented. I am pleased to announce that Wouter loves the painting. 

"Sun kissed" portrait

Very often my biggest problem is choosing the subject to paint. especially if it is oil and on canvas - for some reason oil on canvas feels so much more serious. In fact acrylic is often a more durable medium.

So, one day I was browsing through Facebook, just like we all do, and I saw this photo of my friend. Oh, my- what an amazing photo! With her permission I am posting the portrait painting of her based on that photo. I know she is not a fan of yellow, but for some reason, yellow felt like the right color for it:)

3 Ways of starting a portrait painting

I have noticed I have 3 ways of starting the painting:

1. With a sketch 
2. With sketch + under painting
3. „Blind” painting

With a sketch-  I would start with a detailed sketch (making sure all sizing is correct and in place before I start) and put the paint directly on unpainted canvas. For me this works if its a small painting and I don't want to spend time waiting for under painting to dry. You can see the you tube video on the post Painting A little girl or Inspired by Game of Thrones. 

With a sketch + under painting - I have noticed that I like to do under painting for bigger portraits. This I usually do in acrylic as it dry much faster than oil under painting. I like to choose burnt umber or burnt orange for under painting as it gives warmth to the portrait. Sometimes green or paynes grey is good too to bring out the pink and orange top tones. Under painting also prevents the blank canvas from showing if the canvas is not fully covered. It also gives you an opportunity to establish the darks and lights early. Usually I use this this technique for commission work. I have posted an under painting on you tube for the portrait seen in previous post. 

,,Blind” painting - I just call it that way. Not sure if there is a proper term for it. It simply means that I paint directly on canvas - starting with vauge shapes and adjusting as I paint. I love the creative process of it, but it is much harder to get likelines of the person. I guess it takes practice and eventually one gets to know where to look and what features to enhance to achieve liveliness. If I work on a commission piece its very unlikely that I would use this technique as in many cases it would take longer to fix the mistakes than doing the detail sketch in the beginning.   Positive- it gives more room to play around and thus can make more interesting art piece.

„Blind” painting technique used on this portrait

Horse & human portrait

I am happy to announce that another of my paintings is making his owner happy. This was commissioned by Daiga as a birthday gift for a friend. Since then I have received a email from the birthday girl with loads of happy emotions:)

Oil on canvas board, 12x16 inch

Colorful dog portraits in Cape Town

I was contacted by Michelle to do commission paintings of her beautiful dogs. Since I love painting any living being, of course I agreed:)

These are the pictures that were sent to me.

Initially we were thinking of ding the portraits in mild colors using mostly, white, grey, blue, brown. And this is what it looked like:

Although I loved this look and had tremendous fun painting these boys. Michelle sent me this picture and asked if I could make the portraits look like this, since she loves everything of this painting:

I will admit that it was very hard for me to actually change the look of the paintings- as I really loved it. The next challenge was to understand how to get the feel that comes out of this painting. I tried different brushes and palette knife- but it just did not work. And then it stroked me - I had to use my fingers!!! It was a extremely messy stile for me, but extremely fun too:)

And here is the result!

We are very pleased with the result:) Happy ending!

The portraits are acrylic on canvas, 56 x 71cm each.

Cheers, Ritma

Family portrait commission in oil

This beautiful family commissioned a portrait for Christmas. It was delivered to them on 23.December, 2015 :)

I was smiling through the whole process of painting... well most of it:)

Size: 70x91cm (30x36inch)

Pet portraits on urns - Flaura pets

I have teamed up with Flaura Pet Funeral services and came up with a unique product- a portrait urn.

Losing a pet is always hard and painful and funerals are never fun. However memories are different story. We want to remember our pets and some people prefer to keep pets ashes. The Portrait urn is a very personalized urn to keep your beloved pets ashes.

The portrait of the pet is painted on the clay urn where the ashes later are stored. Here are some of the portrait urns that I have done:

Urns can be ordered via www.flaurapets.co.za

what is she thinking?

I had so much fun painting this fresh portrait. Oil on canvas.

I love this portrait a lot! this is none of the unclaimed portraits that was ordered from overseas. It was posted to Europe and sent back as it was not collected from the post office. It cost me some money, since I never took deposit on it. Since then I am always asking for deposit on the commission work.

Sweet couple portrait

Its been busy! I have not painted much, but here is one of my favorite works so far:)

This is a sweet, young couple that we are friends with. He ordered it as a first wedding anniversary gift for her:).

Portrait of Prof. Jāzeps Vītols goes home

Professor J.Vitols established the first Latvian Conservatory of Music, which was later renamed the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music in his honor, and he ran the composition classes there between 1919 and 1944.

J. Vītols loved to spend his summer holidays in Gaujiena- a small, picturesque village where my parents reside. Gaujiena also hosts a yearly music festival known as J.Vītola music days- this is one of the biggest events in the local calendar:) So we used to hear about him. 

Portrait of Prof.J.Vitols has been presented as a present to Jazeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music on 18th June, 2014 by my father:) So proud of myself:)

For Moms- 3rd give away painting

With Mother's Day just around the corner, here is my 3rd Give Away painting- it has gone home a few weeks ago, but I noticed that it has not been shared on the blog.

3rd give away painting

Kyle responded to my posting on the Facebook group, where I told about the Giveaway paintings. He also shared that his mom and dad has adopted him as a small child and have been the best mom he could ever imagine! Kyle's dad is currently fighting Alzheimer's and mom would really do with some happy feelings and smiles:) Such a special mom!!!

May all moms have a very special Mother's day on Sunday!

2nd Give away painting went home

This is a very special painting for my amazing friends mom. I have never met her mom, but she definitely must be the most amazing woman to have such an amazing daughter. The whole family is in fact AMAZING - the things they do for others are unbelievable! Unfortunately, mom has been going through some rough time in life and we really hope that this painting will bring some more smiles to her and families life!:) 

Cousins/ grandchildren, oil on canvas

More info on the Give away project: http://ritmart.blogspot.com/2014/03/painting-give-away.html

This painting is bigger than the other give away paintings. My friend send me a few photos of the kids and I just thought that I'm not going to leave any of the children out of the portrait- so had to increase the size of the painting to accommodate their beautiful smiles:) 

The baby was a little challenge, as she was not smiling in the photos- and I had to guess the muscle movements etc. Happy to report, that family confirms the smile to be correct :)

SMILE!!!

Your day will go the way the corners of your mouth turn:)

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:)

Painting Give Away!

Dear family, friends, colleagues, readers and all beautiful people!

I would like to give away 3 portrait paintings for free to people who are hurting - with hope that the painting would bring some happiness to their life. 

Details of the painting: 

1. Subject - chosen by receiver (can be arranged as a surprise present);
2. Support- plain canvas, no stretcher bars or frame;
3. Medium - oil paint;
4. Size -28x38cm
5. Pick up, posting - painting to be picked up in Somerset West or posting to be arranged by the beneficiary, if receiver lives outside Cape Town (South Africa). 

Criteria of choosing the receiver- please send me a short story and a reference photo (or a few photos if difficult to choose one) to rgrizane@gmail.com. I hope to choose the paintings-to-be within this week.

What's in it for me? Apart from experience, NOTHING! It's a pure act of kindness. Of course I might get some exposure, but not banking on it. I simply would like to make someones life a bit better. I have no money to give away, but I have my skill, talent, time and ready to invest it. There are way too many people hurting out there. Why do I ask for the story- so people don't abuse the opportunity. 

Please help to find people who would benefit the most from this project and let's share happiness!!!

*The idea is inspired by those dealing with cancer, but is not limited to cancer. Please also share the previous project, that is still on: http://ritmart.blogspot.com/2014/03/a-painting-for-cancer-support.html

The results of this project will be shared here and on social media platforms. 

Gift for the 21st birthday

Here in South Africa turning 21 is a big deal! And my beautiful friend Chloe had her 21st birthday yesterday. Happy Birthday Chloe!!!

Oil on canvas, 29x43cm 

Dog portrait in oil

I have been preparing myself to paint this for a verrrrrry long time. The sketch was done more than a year ago. I'm so glad its done now:)

Don't You sometimes want to paint/ do something and just can't find the right time?:)

Dog portraits in oil 

The dog in the picture is our dog BMW or for easier pronunciation Beemer. He is a 3 years old Labrador x and loves swimming:)

Creating a portrait

 How is a portrait created:

Voila!

This portrait is painted using acrylic paint.

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela has passed away at the age of 95:(  (December 5, 2013)

R.I.P.

Nelson Mandela portrait. Acrylic on canvas. Sold, 2012

Exhibition in news

Hey, this is so cool!!!

My exhibition in Riga today is featured on Latvia's biggest news platform www.delfi.lv.

Here is the link.
http://www.delfi.lv/aculiecinieks/news/riga/vina-dzivo-afrika-un-nu-atrada-savus-darbus-dzimtaja-latvija.d?id=43737360

Apologies to those who don't read Latvian.

Going black & white again

This is my latest painting in black & white.

Acrylic on canvas, 18x24inch