Sunday, March 30, 2014

"MFA Portrait Painting Class And More!"

Portrait Acrylic Canvas 16" x 20" Canvas

At MFA this week and worked on this piece in my first portrait painting class.  In the past I did some pencil drawing and charcoal portrait work but this is my first class using paint to make portraits! Much fun and work!  Had to rush this one because I left the session  early and the model may not be returning next week.  I still have so many adjustments to make.  I wish he allowed us to photograph him so I could continue at home.  I hope next week the model returns because I am ready to continue with fresh and rested eyes!
While in Boston I visited the fire station that suffered the loss of two firefighters in last weeks tragedy!   I went there to pay my respects and leave a painting of a Boston Firefighter I did some time ago.  Talking to the firefighters and giving them the painting  was very emotional. Because of the heavy rain forecasted they decided to keep the painting in the fire house instead outside at the makeshift memorial. I hope in some small way it brought them a bit of comfort.  Thank you to all my art blogging buddies for understanding my posting sad as well as happy events on my blog!


18 comments:

  1. Beautiful work from your portrait class!! You did a wonderful job on the skin tones, features and created a very expressive piece. I hope this will be the first of many more portraits.
    I remember well your fireman painting, it was a wonderful way for you to offer your condolences, Michael. Thank you for sharing these photos and your experiences of visiting the firehouse!

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    1. Caio Celia! Thank you so much for your many wonderful visits! Your very supportive comments always make very happy buddy! In Boston now! Waiting for the museum to open Very psyched! I am happy I gave the firefighters the painting! Hope it brings some comfort! Take care my colorful watercolorist buddy! Michael

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  2. You did a great job on the portrait. It is hard to finish them in one sitting, isn't it? You are so good with words and gestures to make people feel better. What a wonderful trait! I'm sure the firefighters really appreciated your time and the painting. Just curious, Michael, were you ever a firefighter? You seem to have a wonderful empathy for them.

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    1. Thank you Joan! Painting a portrait from a model was a hufe challenge for me! I am again learning that work can be a good thing! Thank you for your kind words about my painting! I feel a sense of contentment imagining the fire fighters in some small.way benefiting from my little gesture! I never was a firefighter! I taught elementary and middle.school.for thirty five yeara! Ever since I was a little.boy I have loved and respected firefighters! Thanks so much for so much Joan! Michael

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  3. Wow Michael, really great of you to present them with a painting of yours to pay your respects and as a tribute.
    Empathy is your best personal quality and you use your art to touch others.
    That is a quality necessary for our teachers too, so you must have been one of the best Boston had.
    We should also recognize the heroism when they save lives as was the case in the construction building fire at about the same time when seconds after pulling a worker off a balcony with their ladder and swiveling away the building collapsed.

    Keep empathizing ...

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    1. Hello my good buddy David! Thank you so much for your very kind word concerning my little gift to the ever so wonderful and courageous firefighters! Seeing your name on the screen always makes me smile! Your comment about me being and emphathetic teacher touches my heart! I so loved being a teacher! When people.ask what "subject" I taught I always answered " I didn't teach a "subject!" I taught "children!" I always hoped they understood and didn't.take my answer as something rude! Thank you for mentioning the heroic fire rescue of the construction worker! Wow! I saw that on tv and was amazed! I will post a clearer photo of the firefighter painting! Thanks for your interest buddy! Emphathize on! Michael

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  4. BTW, is the painting of the fireman here on your blog? I would love to see a better image of it.

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  5. I too would like to see the painting you did for the firehouse. It looks wonderful. It was a very kind and thoughtful tribute to those fallen men and their brotherhood. I suspect you were a fireman. My daughter in-law's father was a Fire Chief in Lansing. Michigan. Her family knows the perils of that difficult job.

    Your portrait is terrific. Is it your first? It doesn't look it. I do love your use of red--more evidence that you were indeed a fireman. :-)). Or just a very good choice. :-))

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    2. Hello Linda! I will definitely post another photo of fire fighter that! Thanks for the interest! Also thank you so much for your very kind and supportive words! Hats off to your daughter-in-law's father! Fire fighting is such a noble profession! I was never a firefighter! Ever since I was little I had a huge respect for fire fighters! Their courage amazes me!
      I am so happy you like my portrait! The model had on a red tee shirt so I thought a blazing red background would be interesting! When I am painting most of my thoughts and decisions are almost instantaneous so I am not really sure why I put the red background. At the time it just felt right?
      I have painted portraits before! But this is my first time I am taking a portrait painting class. I think my work in charcoal portraiture is a huge help! Paint is a bit more challenging. But fun!
      Thanks for visiting Linda and always leaving great comments!
      Michael

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  6. This portrait is wonderful Michael!!!! I like the background as well. And you're so special for giving the firehouse a painting..an incredible tribute to to the Boston Firefighters......I'm so proud to know you.!

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    1. Hello Hilda! A "wonderful" from you , one of the best portrait artists on the planet, is a treat! Thank you Hilda! Also thank you for mentioning the gift to the firefighters! I felt I had to do something! It is so nice to have you proud to know me! Thank you!
      Soon I will be posting this week's work. I chose to do a mostly monochrome blue for the portrait! Reminds me a little of the movie "Avatar!" Take care Hilda and thanks for being one of my dearest art buddies!
      Michael

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  7. Great job with this portrait. It is important to paint from life--much more informative than painting from photo reference. One can really feel the life in this painting! What I like so much about you, Michael, is how much you care about people. You are a gem.

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    1. Hello Celeste! Thank you for your wonderful compliment on my portrait! I am learning to enjoy the "work" part of art work! You are so right about painting from life! I am learning so much about so much! At times my poor eyes need a break from so much work! Also my brain seems to be working a mile a minute processing so much information and trying to transfer that to the canvas! Also always making sure not only is the portrait an accurate representation of the model, but that it is art worthy too! I love the process! So I may have to recruit family and friends for future portraitures!
      Thanks for the wonderful compliment about my little fire fighter gift! I do care so much about people. Not sure how that happened. Also very sensitive! I could cry at a moments notice for just about any reason. Also laugh too! Maybe that is an artist trait? So, thank you for the "gem" compliment Celeste! I know one thing I am for sure I very fortunate gem to have great art blogging buddies like you! Take care Celeste and keep on making and sharing great art!
      Your art buddy!
      Michael

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  8. Michael you are amazing! What a very special thing it was for you to give them your beautiful painting! I'm sure it gave them great comfort and it will go on to be a long-lasting and cherished tribute to their lost workmates. You are such a generous and caring soul! I too would love to see a clearer picture of your painting if you can let me know when you posted it.

    Your portrait is fantastic! You've captured so much expression with great skin tones and shadows. What a shame you had to leave early. I look forward to seeing your subsequent paintings from the portrait class. I dream of painting portraits some day.
    I hope you're not feeling so sad now.
    Enjoy your portrait classes!
    Your art cobber,
    Wendy

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    1. Hello Mate! As always so very, very nice to hear from you Wendy! "Amazing!" Wow! That is amazing that I might be amazing! Thank you buddy! Such a very nice thing to say! I just felt moved to do something for them. I had that painting hung on my wall for some time and thought just maybe these fire fighters may need it more than I do. Also in an almost selfish way it felt pretty good thinking it may help them even a bit to heal! When I gave the painting to the firefighters all of us cried! Then they gave me huge hugs. So sweet because they are so young, tall, and strong. They literally lifted me off my feet. Oh, and another wondrous thing happened! (I so hope you and others don't mind that I tend to write quite a bit! Anyway the wondrous thing is... Do you remember the painting I did for my buddy Eddie Contilli? It was a painting of his bar called "Eddie C's!" Well, I didn't know it at the time but his son, a firefighter , is assigned to that very same station! He was on vacation at the time and wasn't at the station or fire. He is very, very sad. So, imagine the joy to my buddy Eddie C. when he finds out I delivered a painting not only to a fire house but his son's station at that! Life can be so magical! Another amazing thing...When I was a teacher I had my students write letters to this fire fighter when he was deployed in Iraq more than ten years ago! Go figure how these things are all connected! Okay, enough rambling!
      I am thrilled you like my portrait Wendy! The model did return but I chose to start a new work! Same pose same model. But this time I used mostly blues! I will post soon.
      Oh, I am feeling less sad now! Odd how time tends to heal. Sometimes almost strange not too be sad and become happy! Life certainly goes on!
      Thanks for so much Wendy!
      Oh, I thought of you this week! I was so happy when I found out that a contingent of Australian Fire Fighters came to Boston as a show of support! How great is that! Aussies certainly are a special breed! All the way from Australia! How so very wonderful is that!!
      Michael Cobber

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  9. Aww Michael I'm sorry for the sad loss do those two firefighters, and you're painting must have been a wonderful tribute for them to receive. Life is about both the happy and the sad, so ones blog, if being honest, would reflect that. I think you did a great job on your portrait, though you said you rushed it....it's moody and there is life in it. great job!

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  10. Hello My Canadian Art Buddy! Hi Sally! So very good to hear from you!
    I am thrilled you like my portrait! I am glad you noticed the "moodiness" in the work! That is exactly what my wife said when I showed her the painting! The model was very stoic! Very quiet! So maybe some of that came out in the work?
    You are so right about life being both happy and sad! Thank you for supporting my decision to write about both! Posting both just seems right! Thanks Sally!
    I am so happy that the painting brought a bit of comfort to the firefighters. The power of art always amazes me! A huge thank you to the Canadian Fire Fighters who came to Boston as a show of respect and unity with their Boston brothers and sisters in the fire department! "O Canada!" Must love the Canadians!
    Thanks Sally!
    Your USA Art Neighbor!
    Michael

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