No. 15 of 100 Little Portrait Paintings. "A Young Woman" Copyright Christine Montague 2012
This portrait painting of a lovely young person was commissioned as a gift.
Portrait 7 of 100 Little Portraits Project. Baby Face Copyright Christine Montague 2011
Here’s portrait 7 of 100 Little Portraits Project, a 6″ x 6″ oil painting portrait of a baby boy. I love this little face that looks at me daily in the studio. He looks a little worried though.
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!
Portrait Painting 5. 100 Little Portraits 6" x 6" oil painting . Cat portrait. Copyright Christine Montague 2011
A new visitor in my studio at the Williams Mill Visual Arts Centre, upon perusing my work, commissioned me to paint this lovely little pet portrait of a Balinese cat as a surprise Christmas gift for her spouse. This 6″ x 6″ feline portrait was at the opposite end of the scale to the 5 foot tall cat portraits I had created earlier in the year.
It surprised me at just how much I enjoyed painting at this small-scale. Usually,I like to paint large-scale, and larger than life. Also, I love blue, and have discovered painting blue actually makes me feel happy . So those big blue eyes, and the blue background were a joy to paint. (Do you know that looking at landscape paintings helps ease symptoms of people suffering with SAD, seasonal affective disorder).
The portrait charmingly sat on a decorative easel while waiting for pick up. I easily imagined looking at that dear face daily on a table beside a favorite chair. Mind you , a painting of this size can hang by itself, or in a grouping.
The client was quite moved by the finished art, which is always my biggest reward. The little cat face was lovingly nestled in a gift box. I am certain its recipient never guessed at what thoughtful a gift he was about to unveil.
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.
Portrait 1. Wax & Oil paint. 6" x 6" panel. Copyright Christine Montague
Help! I am a Canadian visual artist who paints figurative landscape & portraiture oil paintings. I create and show my work in my Williams Mill Visual Arts Centre, Glen Williams (a hamlet by Georgetown), Ontario. In the fall of 2010 I created this 6″ x 6″ portrait painting at a cold wax workshop. You can more about this experience here. At Christmas I painted a 6″ x 6″ portrait commission of a cat. As I love to paint large works, I was surprised at how much satisfaction I felt at creating this little work and at how much attention these small portraits received from studio visitors. As a result? The 100 Little Portraits Project is born.
