Portrait and Step-By-Step Demo

This is my friend Jacquelynne, whom I've painted before. Her mother commissioned a series of three portraits, this being the second one. It's oil on linen, 18x30". I had the lame-brained idea of taking photos during each sitting, partially due to some requests, but also to be able to look back in time and evaluate my own progress on the painting. Since this painting turned out ok, I added some commentary to the photos. Hope somebody can get something out of it.
Bottom picture is one I like to take just for my own records. Sorry for the bad photo. She was NOT happy wearing that dress!

Today's Sketchclub

Topic today is 'running away'. Pretty open to interpretation, which I enjoyed!

Even More SketchClub Stuff

A couple Swordsmen, and a silly Batman for good measure. I think I'm having too much fun at work with these daily topics. My desk resembles an art studio now more than it does a workstation. I might get fired, folks. And yes, that's a Guess pencil.

More Sketchclub Stuff

I've been enjoying Mark's great little acrylic doodles. So I was inspired to try that medium for my work sketchgroup stuff. Plus, my co-workers were starting to pick on me for using photoshop. The top two are spies, and the bottom two are Batman. The paintings on the right are done on a ripped piece of oatmeal box.

Yesterday's SketchClub Topic

Executioner. Again, done over my lunch break (and maybe creeping into the work day a little too ;)

Tooth Fairy

We got a daily sketch club going at work. Topic today is Tooth Fairy. Quickly sketched this out over lunch.

Sketch for a Portrait

Above is a preliminary sketch for a portrait commission I'm working on. Before I jump in with oil paint, I like to do a sketch or two (digital in this case), to get acquainted with the 2D shapes on the model, as well as nailing down the overall value relationships that I intend to stick with. I don't show these to the client; they're just for my own peace of mind.
I'll post something cooler next time.

Erika

This is a portrait sketch of filmmaker, artist, art historian, and friend of mine, Erika Loic. She was kind enough to come over and sit for me, while I proceeded to massacre her image on canvas. Painting friends is difficult (Sargent warned against it, too). However, when you want to put yourself in the trenches, nothing beats it.
Oil on Linen, 11x14".

Head Study

Head studies from my weekly sessions with the live model. The top painting is one of those rare, one-in-a-hundred times where I felt like things were somehow just working out for me. I put it in a frame to remember the occasion.