Portrait painting, Alla Prima and direct method

I wash disappointed by my painting, so I took a couple of workshops of the school. 1st one is portrait painting from live model. Yes, this workshop is exactly what I needed. here is the final product (unfinished). Using photo and using live model have big difference, and using live model make painting easier to obtain realism for me, sure there are some disadvantages too, tho. 

And after this workshop, I took Alla prima. I absolutely love it. Of course until I get it there were a lot of frustrations. But once I got general idea what Alla Prima is, it was a lot of fun with cool brush strokes. Asian male is limited palette, and man with blue shirts is full palette.

Since the model of the evening class had to leave a moth early, we had an opportunity to try direct painting, it is like Alla prima, but 8 day length. It was great fun and I see my improvement in fresh tone. I could only attend 4 days, wish I could finish this work....

Portrait from the photo

I finally finished (may do some minor correction tho) the portrait of my Italian teacher. I like my  painting more than photo. But I think I mis the point. Now I confused what is classical realism and what is photo realism.... I wonder how can I differentiate??? I guess this all I can do by myself without instruction. Feel like I'm stuck!!!!

Black and white and blue

My nephew when he was 18months old. Held my mandolin and observed it carefully as if he was looking for where the sound coming from...

Few things to update...Part 2

Here are figure studies that I have been working on since May. Unfortunately both are uncompleted.

Red pencil on stained paper, about 12x16". I like a bit rough style, but this one needs to be take care of the edges.

Monochrome study of standing man, 16X30in, oil on linen. This one is closed to finishing of the first painting stage, not quite tho. Looking through from the back side, I could see some places meed more paint application, especially the edge between the figure and back ground. Oh well, next time!

Few things to update...Part 1

June 27th, finally I completed the 8th project. This time, I made my first painting very smooth, so second painting was mainly making it more smooth and adjusting the colour/temperature. Comparing to the first painting stage, it looks more rich and vivid.
I could make it the left lower corner background colour a bit more yellow, but thought enough already, so didn't. In the end, this project turned out more like super realism style. 

16x30in. Oil on linen.

New mugs

I hadn't done any pottery works for a while so I decided to check what I had left behind. Found 4 mugs, 2 tea pots, and 2 rice bowls that were before and after green wear firing. I wanted to try drawing something using slips, so I tried cats on the mugs. Here is how they turned out.

I'm basically happy about them. Colour became lighter, but still visually OK. I'll think about other design to draw for new works.

These mugs are on sale for $20 each (+shipping).

Red chalk Gustavo

Last month was quite busy. I was in Italy (holiday) for 2 weeks. I love Italy, not only Italian fine art works, but also weather, food, and atomosphere. This time I was in South, especially Sicily driving around country side. So refreshing, inspiring..., I didn't want to come back at all...

This is red chalky pencil work. Compared to the one http://mkchart.blogspot.ca/2010/10/country-bumpkin-conte-work.html I did few years ago, I think this is more sophisticated.... Ha-ha...!