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.

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

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

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

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. 

Away from home

Do You ever miss your parents home?

I have been living out of my home country for about 5 years now and in those years the outlook has changed quite a bit...

This is the painting I call Latvia. the girl in it is wearing a traditional clothing (one of them to be exact), the monument at the background is the Freedom monument in Riga, the horse symbolizes the elegance and strength and the field and forest in the background is that shows the strong bond to nature.

A painting for the cancer support

Today I had to take my mother-in-law to the hospital for her cancer treatment. It is not a happy place... So, I was thinking- how can I help. I also attended a great conference past weekend where it was said that we should give more! So adding this all together, I have decided to donate half of the proceeds from this painting to Cancer Association. I do also hope to get at least the cost of material back, so I can continue with painting...

Painting for SALE
Cancer support Horse
Acrylic, 76x91cm

Let's see How it goes!

The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away!
- Pablo Picasso

SOLD!!! 

Thank You Alicia! More info in this site:

http://ritmart.blogspot.com/2014/04/horse-painting-for-cansa-donations.html

Horse painting - large

Ok, it is not a secret that I LOVE horses:) Horses are the most amazing, elegant, strong and gentle (in most cases) animals. I have always wanted to paint a large horse painting. IT'S DONE!

Finding the right horse/ photo took the most effort!

Enjoy the painting!

Horse painting by R Grizane

Large painting - horse

One day I will own a horse and he/she will look just like this one!:)

R

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 

Creating a portrait

 How is a portrait created:

Voila!

This portrait is painted using acrylic paint.

Baby girl in oil

The local crafts shop had a sale, so I bought some great oil paint and had to try it out!! I wanted to do some for fun and experience. So I checked the photos on my computer and came up with a very cute baby girl from an extended family. Here she is!:)

Baby girl.
Oil on canvas, 30x40cm

Hope You like it!:)

Big paintings

The big paintings always make bigger impression- I hope this one will do too:)

This is the biggest painting I worked on so far- 120x90cm (36x48 inches). Oil on boxed canvas.

Fragment of the painting

This is going to be a surprise present, so I can't post a full photo. Painting is still in progress. and when it is going to be finished and presented to the lucky person, I may acquire rights to post it online.

Happy paintings!

Ritma

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.

Exhibition Nr3/ Izstāde Nr 3- Restorācija, Rīga, Latvija

The 3rd Solo Exhibition in Latvia is up and running from 7- 20.October in Restaurant/ Bar Restoracija in Riga, corner of Terbatas and Stabu street. http://www.restoracija.lv/home.php

Thank You all for making it possible!!!

Trešā personālizstāde "Portreti" ir skatāma Restorānā/ bārā "Restorācija" uz Tērbatas un Stabu ielas stūra. Visi laipni aicināti baudīt mākslu un, ja ir vēlme- padoties tiešām fantastisko ēdienu un dzērienu kārdinājumam (to saku no pieredzes:)). http://www.restoracija.lv/edieni.php

Paldies visiem! bez jums tas nebūtu iespējams!!!

Newly married for 25 years

:) This is a commission I was asked to paint as a present for a 25th wedding anniversary. Here You can see both: the original photo and the photo of the painting. It was somewhat a challenge to do colors in the painting as the 25 years old photo does not the same detail as the 16 mega pixel digital photo... but it definitely was fun:) I really hope that the couple depicted have a great marriage and likes the painting:).

original

Oil portrait of newly weds 

More colors

As a response to my last post on my favorite colors- I decided to do a paintings with different / happier colors:

Save the Rhino,
Acrylic on canvas
29x40cm

I still used the ultramarine blue as the darkest color on the palette, but introduced some yellows and reds as well. Hope You like it:)

R

Going black & white again

This is my latest painting in black & white.

Acrylic on canvas, 18x24inch

Solo exibition / Personālizstāde - Riga, Latvia

This is the 3rd Solo - exhibition in Latvia (my home country).

Šī ir trešā manis gleznoto portretu  izstāde, kas apskatāma Rīgā, "Latvijas Gāze" Mācību centrā, Stirnu ielā 34 līdz 13.septembrim.

Beggining for the good energy!

Thank You to:

Taiga Treimane- for organizing the venue;
My sister- for logistic help;
My dad- for making all the beautiful frames;
My family- for accepting my crazy painting times:)