2009 Portrait Swap

This is my entry for the end-of-the-year Portrait Swap on Karin Jurick's Different Strokes from Different Folks blog. Each of the 180 artists who participated submitted a head-and-shoulders photo of themselves and received an anonymous photo of someone else in return.

We've had three weeks to work on the portraits, which are due tomorrow. This is what I have so far. Any suggestions before Dec. 31?

Be sure to check out the variety of styles and interpretations on Different Strokes From Different Folks. If you'd like to participate next year, look for a notice on Karin's blog around the end of November 2010.

8" x 10" watercolor

Girl with an Artificial Pearl Earring

Copying Vermeer: I found another art "challenge" blog on the Web: Project: Old Master Copy. The challenge was to choose either "Portrait of Durer’s Mother" or "Girl with a Pearl Earring" and copy them. Since I just found the site Dec. 31, I did not meet the Jan. 1 deadline for the project. The painting on the top is the second stage of my painting. The one on the bottom was the first stage. I'm adding in a lot more warmth than Vermeer's version. More to come. Check out the site. Many people have submitted masterful paintings inspired by this challenge. Oil on 9" x 12" stapled canvas.

The Mark 3000

Now that I've finished the painting for the portrait project on the Different Strokes blog, I can reveal who it is. The subject is fellow artist Mark Bridges. I call it "The Mark 3000" because it seems like the 3000th version that I've painted. This is oil on an 8" x 10" gallery-wrapped canvas. I hope he has a sense of humor. Click here to see his portrait of me.