For the pets

Here is another portrait of beloved dog. Luckily it is not my dog, as it is painted on a clay urn. To be honest, I wouldn't know how to deal with a pet that has crossed the rainbow bridge. But I know who could help - Flaura Funerals www.flaura.co.za

The personalized urn is just one of the products that they offer. This one is a small. The urn is made of clay and painted over with an acrylic paint.

I think it's a beautiful way to remember your pet :)

Sunny portrait

I have a very sunny friend and it was her birthday, so she got a sunny portrait from me ;)

Video is also an interesting presentment how background colour changes the feel of the portrait.

FREE ONLINE portrait painting classes

Would you like to learn portrait painting, but dont know where to start?

I am looking to offer online live classes, but need to see how it works.

Let's help each other!

We will arrange time that suits both of us. 1 on 1, 2h class will be offered via Whatsapp or Skype. Offer valid for September only.

What you will need: internet connection, your own place and materials to work with.

Please contact me here or on Whatsapp

To see my work, check out the images and videos on this blog.

The former president

I had this painting in mind for a while (read a couple of years), but it never seemed a good time or good reason.

Yesterday I wanted to start a portrait for my cousin, but could not find the reference photos, they are somewhere in limbo between the new and old phone. So I decided that it was time to do a portrait of the former president of Latvia, Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga. She was elected President of Latvia in 1999 and re-elected in 2003 for the second term. An amazing woman!

She is wearing a national costume in the portrait.

Time lakpse YouTube video accessible here: https://youtu.be/5hwlzUaxATA

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

Small OIL PORTRAIT SPECIAL

Small OIL PORTRAIT SPECIAL!!!
R499, oil paint on plain canvas 18x18cm

The other day I painted a small portrait for Latvian project ”Stastu Sega” and quite enjoyed it. I have always preferred big portraits and used to tell I don't paint less than A3 size portraits. Since then I have painted a few more small portraits and I think I like it.

So...

I have decided to offer to do a few small oil portrait paintings at R499 (about 25Euro) while I enjoy the process ;)

T&C
- Deposit R100 required
- Portrait would be on plain canvas fabric, no frame
- Price does not include delivery or shipping
- A good quality photo is a pre-requisite
- Portrait might take up to 2 weeks before finished, after deposit is paid
- I reserve rights to use the photos/video of the portrait online
- SPECIAL valid until I decide I no longer wish to paint small :D

To order contact me on:
- Messenger,
- email rgrizane@gmail.com
- Whatsapp +27611776609

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

A little girl

Alla painting of my niece. 16x16cm. Oil on canvas.

My sisters girls are my favorite subjects over the years.

This one took me 2,5h hours in total (exclusive of breaks)

Commission works welcome

Time lapse videos are available on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/gXoB9BMmFyY

New year - new paintings

I can't believe it''s almost middle of February already. 

I am currently busy with a Valentine's day surprise painting, but can't share it for obvious reasons. 

Here are some of the other paintings I have done. 

They are on Tela canvas grain and are 30x40cm, oil