Laura, 12x16"

Laura is a very special student of mine.  She started in my teen class when she was in middle school, and now here we are, several years later, and she's become a wonderful artist and a lovely young lady on the brink of adulthood.  I look at "my kids" sometimes and wonder how it's possible that they've grown before my very eyes and I don't feel a moment older.  But I also feel very lucky for having known each of them.

Jose, 12x16"

First, let me say that Jose is a very very nice man. He provides many of our frames at the studio, and was gracious enough to sit for us for a couple of hours yesterday.  He looks slightly menacing because I decided to paint him that way.  The direct stare and lowered lids can give the viewer an uneasy feeling. As a contrast, I painted the background in "friendly" pastel shades to try to lighten the mood!

"Still Water", 7x5"

Don't worry folks, the snow hasn't hit Illinois already.  I painted this one from a photo that one of my students brought in to class.  Thanks, Dixie!  Once again, I painted on top of thick gesso applied to a hardboard which gave wonderful rough textures.  Another painting with a mind of its own!

For purchase information, please click on Ann Feldman Still Water.

"Red Scarf", 12x16"

The last session of my portrait class at Mainstreet was last Monday.  We spent six weeks together, going over the fundamentals of portrait drawing and painting.  We started out drawing portraits in charcoal, and then progressed to painting with a limited palette of colors.  The painting above was painted with Ultramarine Blue, Cadmium Red Medium, and Cadmium Yellow Pale--  that was it!  So interesting to see how many colors can be made using just the three "primaries".

We ended the session with a live model sitting.  Nerves gave way to intense concentration, and some wonderful paintings were produced!  I was so proud of my class!!!

For purchase information, please click on Ann Feldman Red Scarf.