Oil Portrait on my Easel

A snapshot of my latest oil portrait almost complete... just needs finishing touches and a signature.

Ethan Awarded First Place in Oils

I am thrilled to announce that my portrait of Ethan has been awarded First Place - Oils at the Richeson 75: International Figure Portrait Exhibition. The juror was esteemed portrait artist Everett Raymond Kinstler, and I am so honored that he selected my piece and wrote the following:


"Portraying a child is most difficult. I think Holly Bedrosian's painting of Ethan is very successful. Most importantly, there is a child-like innocense and simplicity about the young boy. The painting is sensitive, and while modest, has a sincerity and good paint quality. The polo shirt and its horizontal patterns are subdued and intelligently rendered. A fine interpretation, convincingly handled."


The show goes on through November 4 at the Richeson Gallery in Kimberly, WI.

On my easel...

Pictured here is a snapshot (not final image) of the painting on my easel. This was my first time painting on Gessobord, and I really like the fine grain for painting portraits. This piece is a small format (20" x 16") for a 3/4 length portrait, so it was important to use a surface that facilitates the rendering of fine details, such as for her face. I didn't tone the board as I do with canvas, but rather painted directly onto the white sanded surface, first working with thin layers of paint, and gradually building up the thicker (less turpentine, more oil) layers. I tend to paint in layers, letting the paint dry overnight, adding subsequent layers each day.