How do you really get the character of the person onto the canvas?

A portrait is meant to not just visually describe the person but is meant to make them live. To do that you have to find some small aspect of their identity and make it come through. It is very, very hard and I have so much respect for those that can do it well.

My favorite portrait artist? Well, it’s actually Leonardo Da Vinci. He really was a master and I was so thrilled to have visited Florence this last year to at least be in the same place that he once walked.

For me, I’ve got a long way to go.

But I wanted to share with you one of my more successful portraits. Successful in the sense that I think I captured Yu Ying’s confidence in this one.

Enjoy it as I’m not sure I could do it again.

It’s funny but when I got married I didn’t realize the artistic talent of my husband’s family. Growing up in my family in Thailand and in Korat I was surrounded by artists. It was a very pleasant surprise to come to America and be surrounded by another family of artists.

Elizabeth has just launched her own website (www.elizabethstern.net)and it features a series of paintings that are just remarkable.

She paints the human body at a level no one else has ever attempted and with an artistic eye that is just beautiful. Take the time to go, visit, and send her congratulations.

Artery by Elizabeth Stern

It got me inspired and so I found a little time the next day and made a small and quick painting about the ocean. Though I hate the water as I’m quite afraid of it, my husband loves it so I made this piece for him.

The technique is relatively simple. It is really the same as with a brush, but finger painting forces you to move fast, not think, and just really feel your painting.

Working on this piece reminded me of a story I saw about Esref Armagan, who is a blind painter from Turkey. He literally “feels” his paintings and they are absolutely amazing. If you ever get a chance to see the documentary on him, do it.

Enjoy