Fun Portraits

 I love doing faces...I am using watercolor and gouache on watercolor paper. These are 9x12.

The Tattoo

My cousin was at the beach and someone took a great photo of her. I ask if I could try to paint it. I am not as happy with it as I would like, and I may try to do it again. Staci is so pretty, and was fun trying to portray her.  This is watercolor on Fabriano watercolor paper.

Portrait Workshop with David Lobenberg

A friend and I went to Cloudcroft to take a workshop from David Lobenberg. It was a really great fun workshop. Of course Cloudcroft  NM is always awesome!

We use stencils to make textures on our paintings.

Workshop with Kay Smith

Kay and her demo

Kay Smith-Suzy Powell

Painting-not named yet

Saturday I was lucky enough to get to go take a workshop from Kay Smith in Big Spring, TX.
She is becoming very well known, just got in Splash 14 among several other art books.
She is an awesome teacher. Be sure and go to her blog and check it all out.

We did mixed media. Using matte medium, we glued down 4 pages from a telephone book on hot press watercolor paper. After 10 minutes, we tore off what would come off, leaving some of the paper. Then after it dried, we sketched our images on using charcoal. Then we painted with gouache. Then we collages some. I used wrapping paper from a birthday gift. The image is a manikin. I took photos of her last week. I also used some gold leaf on her hat. I have a few touches I need to do yet.

The first photo is the demo that Kay did. This technique goes pretty fast ...after you prepare the paper. The bottom photo is the one that I did. For some reason I haven't named it yet! that is very unusual for me!

Karla

I started this portrait of my Granddaughter,Karla, back in February , and was never happy with it, so I re-drew the face and started over.
I think it is more of a likeness than before. Tearing up paper to make a face is not real easy! But, it is fun to try.  I wanted to show her beautiful blue eyes.

Workshop July 22-23

I have had a couple of questions about the workshop in July.  It is July 22-23 in Plains, TX, at the community center.  I will have a drawing for anybody that wants to start out and do what I am going to demo.  It will be 10-4.  There is a good Mexican food place, DQ, and burrito place.  Not sure if the Bar-B-Q will be open.
Or you can bring your lunch.  All you need are 3-4 magazines, canvas and glue.
I prefer the magazines with the slick pages.
The 2nd day, I want you to do your own design. There will be some from Hobbs, and Lubbock. If you are interested contact me for supply list, etc.There is a little Bed and Breakfast in Plains, and a motel in Denver City, if you don't want to drive.

I just got back from a collage workshop doing portraits with Derek Gores.  We were at Cypress Mills,TX.
It was too hot for life nearly! 

We got stranded in Memphis coming from Charlotte,NC due to the weather.  We made the best of it, and got a taxi and went downtown to Beale Street and I saw this woman. She carried herself with so much confidence.  I thought she was very pretty.  I didn't even do her justice, but I tried!
Instead of doing the normal skin color, I chose to do the black and white so it would stand out. I loved her big hair do! I hate to post her photo that I took on here, since I took her with out her knowledge.

'Memphis'

Watercolor Wyoming Watercolor Show

Best Friends

by Suzy 'Pal' Powell

This is the other painting that was accepted into the Wyoming Show that will be held in Wyoming in September. I wasn't really expecting this to get in since i haven't done that many portraits. I hope to do some more in the future, and plan on taking some more workshops to learn as much as I can.