Oil painting process - miniature portrait of Robert Eakin

Here I am showing a few photos of the progress on an oil painting. It took a couple of months to complete this 5"x7" painting commission. The technique uses many layers. Each layer must be dry before going onto the next one.

(Not all layers are pictured in the video)
1. a drawing on canvas
2. cover that with yellow ochre/turpentine wash
3. Burnt umber modeling.
4. background
5. cover part of the flesh with green
6. add warm fleshy colors.
7. model the shirt in blue
8. add hi lights
9. after a couple of more months, cover with dammar varnish

I learned this technique from Kirstine Reiner, a Danish artist living in San Francisco. I also got tips from reading online about "Flemish technique" from Alexei Antonov.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• oil-painting
• christopher-michael
• Robert-Eakin
• portrait
• art
• canvas
• kirstine-reiner
• Anstrichkunst
• peintre
• d'artiste
• old-masters-technique
• calarts
• sfchristo
• Marvin-Werlin
• alexei-antonov

[theartofthecovenant]

oooooo the flemish technique i believe. actually quite sure but may be wrong. nice video. nice painting!

[SFChristo]

@theartofthecovenant Thank you. I learned about this by working with a wonderful Danish painter, Reiner Hansen. I don't want to speak out of my depth of knowledge but the technique is called "Flemish" and "Old Master's" as opposed to working in one layer "alla prima" - even if that one layer is done over a period of days or weeks.

[theartofthecovenant]

@SFChristo i break the rules myself. i simply don't have the ability to sit and paint anything of a decent size "alla prima". you've done an excellent job here, sir. hope you have a great year.

[SFChristo]

@theartofthecovenant Thank you. In my non-representational (aka abstract) paintings I also use this multi layering technique with some very beautiful results.

[BBaudelaire]

Awesome! You're a really talented. And the background music is so beutiful. What music is that? Thank you.

[SFChristo]

Thank you, BBaudelaire. The music is by Mussorgsky - Pictures at an Exhibition.  You might check out the rich orchestral version, (that's how most people hear the piece).

[theartofthecovenant]

@SFChristo you know what's the better service you've done here? you've given reference to theory in application the same as it would be explained in any college studio art course. you can always tell those who've gone through to completion versus those who haven't, such as myself. :D. SFAAU is a very expensive institution. :) (i couldn't afford all of it). have a nice year!

[girlpalooza]

Hey I know that guy! =)

[noppy28]

wow it realy is beautifull !!

!! 5/5 !!!

[pixieprncess]

You are very welcome SFChristo! I aspire to paint like that one day, of course after years of practice! ;)