100 Little Portraits Project. 6" x 6" oil painting of a little boy. Copyright Christine Montague
This 6″ x 6″ oil painting portrait commission, also commissioned as a Christmas gift, is of a four-year old boy. What wonderful eyes this little guy has!
Portrait 11. 6" x 6" oil painting of a baby girl by Christine Montague
The colour is a bit off in this image of this dear little baby girl. The background is purple and the t-shirt pink, so hopefully if this little girl, is anything like the little girls I know, she’ll at least like the colours when she gets older. Commissioned as a special 1st birthday gift, it was a joy to paint.
100 Little Portraits Project: 6" x 6" portrait oil painting of a boy. Copyright Christine Montague
Finished today and drying in the studio is this 6″ square portrait on canvas of a 10-year-old boy. No. 10 in the series. I’m enjoying the expressions that can still be conveyed on these small canvases. Many of these portraits are on display in my studio at the Williams MIll Visual Arts Centre.
6" x 6" Portrait oil painting on canvas of a young man copyright Christine Montague
At last! Here is No. 9 in the 100 Little Portraits Project. Who know’s what this youth is thinking, but chances are it is more than the bright sun that is making him scowl. Could it be that a certain someone is taking too many photos of him in a public place?! “Now what.” could easily be entitled ”Go away”, but at least this handsome young man is polite enough to keep these thoughts to himself.
Portrait 6 of "100 Little Portraits" Project. Girl with Blue Sky copyright Christine Montague 2011
Look familiar? This portrait was inspired by the same photo I used for the wax portrait and the monochromatic sepia portrait. In the original photo the model’s hand blocks her chin. I tool artistic license to complete her face in this little portrait. I snapped most of the photos of the portrait paintings on “100 Little Portraits” with my iPhone 3Gs. The quality of the camera never fails to impress me and I was looking forward to upgrading to the iPhone 5 this July, hoping the camera would be even better. Looks like I’ll be waiting until September now. I wonder what number portrait I’ll be photographing then!
Little Portrait # 2 of 100 Little Portraits. Monochromatic 6" x 6" oil painting copyright Christine Montague
Little Portrait #3 of 100 Little Portraits Project. Copyright Christine Montague
Little Portrait #4 of 100 Little Portraits Project. Copyright Christine Montague 2011
After I took the workshop where I did the 6″ x 6″ wax and oil portrait I painted these little under paintings of some children I know. My plan was to do them in full colour. But visitors to my Williams Mill studio all commented how much they liked the little trio just as they were. I had painted the sides black and had carried the paint over the edge to the front to make sure there were no gaps. An irregular black line was now visible on the painting and I had planned to cover this when I painted the works in colour. But the black edges* had the appeal of hand printed photos with black edges, and there was great protest at the idea I clean these up. So here are portraits # 2, 3 & 4 of the 100 little paintings. Although I always try to stay true to my creative self, sometimes it pays to listen to my audience!
*The standard was that all art, except contemporary had to be framed. No more! Even galleries do not demand that their artists frame everything and leave framing choice up to the collector. Instead artists are required to paint around the edge of the canvas to give it a finished look. My little portraits are painted black on the sides. I like the clean finished look it gives if one decides not to frame them. The portrait pops! Other solutions vary – even on my other paintings. The sides can be painted with a colour that is in or does not distract from the work, they made be painted in a metallic paint, or the image of the painting may continue around the edge.
That doesn’t mean one shouldn’t frame! Frames can be oh! So beautiful! Portraits, especially traditional ones, are flattered by frames. Realistic landscapes also look better framed. Framing does have a purpose aside from enhancing the image. Frames protect the art work from oils on hands and from being damaged in transportation.
I think my little portraits look as charming either way. They can sit on a small easel on a table top as well as hang on a wall. It just comes down to your personal choice or budget.
