House Portrait in Guilford, Baltimore

Greif House, 30x40", oil on canvas, Patricia Bennett

I painted this a few years ago.  I used to live nearby and always really loved the house.  It's in Guilford, in Baltimore City, and was designed by a couple of famous English Architects who missed their country.

I did a few watercolors first, and then spent a few months working on this.  It is very detailed.

My uncle's favorite English teacher owns the house, this was one of those odd coincidences.  Now he also owns this painting, and it's hanging on a wall inside.  When I was there, he showed me where it would go.  He had a portrait there at the time, a full-length portrait of his mother, which he wanted to lend to the Baltimore Museum of Art.

Since the painting, the azaleas have been pulled out as well as the tulip poplar!

Jennifer, 11x14, acrylic on paper, Patricia Bennett

My weekly portrait of a neighbor.  I noticed the contrast between her black hair with the white of the wall.

She sat from 9:30am until about 1pm, with a few breaks.

Process:
First I did a drawing in pencil on the paper.  That took about an hour.  Then I painted the large mass, her hair, in thinned paint, and that set up the color structure.  And next I worked on her face.

She was fun to paint because she has lovely delicate features and striking dark hair.  And, she sat still.  I feel really lucky to have such great models.

"The Agony and the Ecstasy", 11x14, pencil on paper, Patricia Bennett

I drew Chris as he worked on a very challenging copy of Michelangelo's stunning bas relief.

Midnight Portrait

Midnight Portrait, 11x14, acrylic, Patricia Bennett

Painted by lamplight.

Two Coffee Shop Watercolors

On My Left, 5x8", watercolor, Patricia Bennett

On My Right, 5x8", watercolor, Patricia Bennett

At the local coffee shop.

Roxie Update

"Roxie, unfinished", 22x22", acrylic

I worked on Roxie's portrait today.  I added pieces of her owner's back yard: the tree,
a petunia, the fish pond.  And her favorite bone is near her paw.

"Tuesday Night", 11x14", acrylic, Patricia Bennett

A live model.  I limited my colors and looked at black and white for contrast.

Cousin

"Cousin", 9x12", pencil, Patricia Bennett

My cousin who is in college. 

Pocadots

"Pocadots", 9x12", pencil, Patricia Bennett

She likes to go to Starbucks and eat watermelon.

Ken Oak House

"Ken Oak House"  9x12" graphite on paper, Patricia Bennett

A house in our neighborhood.

Pigtails

"Pigtails" 12x12", oil on panel, Patricia Bennett

She sat very still.  This was done several years ago.

Loony Tunes

"Loony Tunes", 11x14", graphite on paper, Patricia Bennett

She's watching Bugs Bunny.

Another angel at Starbucks

"Angel 2", 5x8",  acrylic, Patricia Bennett

Another angel drinking coffee at the local Starbucks.

Pebble

"Pebble", 9x12", graphite on paper, Patricia Bennett

An almost three year old boy on a spring day.

Roses

"Roses", 5x7", oil on panel, Patricia Bennett

The roses are about to bloom.

Ellen

"Ellen" 11x14", acrylic on paper, Patricia Bennett

Today one of my generous neighbors sat for her portrait.  She sat from 9 to 1:30.  The background colors are based on the view out of the window of a Japanese maple, grass and sky.

I used acrylic paints.  They are simple, compared to the sleek and extremely demanding oils.  They dry fast, so the painting is really done as soon as I am done; they don't emit vapors; they are very easy to clean.  I use red, blue, yellow, white, and black, and naples yellow hue paint, Utrecht brand.
And I use two brushes, a round and a detail.

She left with her portrait, as that's the deal: I get a model and the model gets the portrait.

Rose

"Rose", 9x12", pencil on paper, Patricia Bennett

Her name is actually not Rose, but tomorrow I'm going to add a rose to her hair.

The Guardian

"Guardian" 12x12", oil on panel, Patricia Bennett

The lion is protecting the lemons.

Casey

"Casey", 11x14", watercolor and ink, Patricia Bennett

A friend's dog.

Party Girl and a part-beagle

"Party Girl" graphite on paper, Patricia Bennett, 9x12"

A little girl. 

"First Sketch" unfinished.  Patricia Bennett 22"x22"

And this is my beagle portrait so far, as the first sketch.  I'm trying to decide if I should put the dog in a niche or not. 

Coffee Shop Angel

"Coffee Shop Angel", watercolor on paper, 5x8", Patricia Bennett

An angel at Starbucks yesterday, checking her phone messages.

Ut Oh

"Ut Oh" 9x12", graphite on paper, Patricia Bennett
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/patricia-bennett/b1f1dbf0-17d0-484a-9a6f-d8636f79c6b5

A cute baby with chubby cheeks.

Good Morning

"Good Morning", 9x12", graphite on paper, Patricia Bennett
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/patricia-bennett/5a9e9246-9c89-420a-8459-ec915c67973b

Done from a very small, blurry photograph.

Rose in Teacup

"Rose in Teacup", 5x8", oil on panel, Patricia Bennett

Roses!

The Scrabble Game

"Scrabble Game"  16x20", oil on panel, Patricia Bennett

Painted on location, but the children were painted from references.  My favorite thing was the cow.

Rose in Glass

"Rose in Glass", 9x12", oil on panel, Patricia Bennett

Painted on a summer day.

Living Room

"Living Room" 18x24", oil on panel, Patricia Bennett

I asked to paint this room because of the stone faces over the fireplace.  It was painted
on location over several weeks.

"Looking Down" 8x10", oil panel, Patricia Bennett

Keechland

"The Potomac and Waterford Crystal" 12x14", oil on panel, Patricia Bennett

Painted on location.

The Scholar

"Scholar", 11x14", graphite on paper, Patricia Bennett

She was writing a paper in Spanish as I drew her portrait.