1 hour self portrait

"self portrait"

6in x 6in oil on ampersand hardboard

It's been a while since I've posted anything to this blog. We've had a lot going on in our life over the last few months. We sold a house, bought another, moved in and then found out that I'm losing my job. Luckily I've been able to secure employment thru March 2011 but beyond that who knows. Life is full of changes and we are certainly in the middle of that now. I took an hour to myself on my birthday to paint a self portrait. This is my first attempt at a self portrait and it is obviously not as polished as a studio portrait but I really like the "looseness" of it and think that it really conveys what's going on in my life now.

"Stop"

42 Calle de los Marqueses de Arucas, Arucas, CN, Espana

6" x 6" oil on Ampersand hardboard, palette knife

This is my contribution to the Virtual Painout Blog. This month's challenge was the Canary Islands. It's great fun to use Google Streetview to find a subject to paint, although I have to limit my time in searching and force myself to choose something. I chose this image for the dramatic shadows and sunlit side of the street. I'm pretty pleased with it.

"14 Klubbgata, Stavanger, Rogaland, Norge"

6" x 6" oil on Ampersand Hardboard

This is my contribution to the March Virtual Paintout blogspot. After searching for a while I finally decided on this picture because of the limited color palette and the interesting shadows and simple composition.

Spring fever

"Stormy Gulf"

6" by 6", oil on ampersand hardboard

Winter appears to finally be over which has given me beach fever. This is a painting from a reference photograph taken last October during a family trip to Destin, FL. I always try to carry a digital camera with me because you never know when inspiration will strike

"Municipal Wharf - Monterey, CA"

6" x 6" oil on ampersand clayboard, email kellybenefieldart@charter.net for purchase info

This is my contribution to the February painting challenge on The Virtual Painout blog. I selected a scene from the Municipal Wharf in Monterey, CA. The reference photo is above. I attempted to add the lettering to the truck but didn't like it so I decided to leave it blank. I think I like it better this way.

"Wendy and Gracie"

16" by 20" oil on canvas, NFS

This is a portrait of my wife and daughter done from a recent photograph of a beach trip. I'm pretty pleased with the results and I will say that portraits are much easier done from behind. I never realized how hard it is to paint sand and although I'm not 100% pleased with my results, I reached a point where I thought it was good enough that I could live with it.

"Corsica"

6" by 6" oil on hardboard

For purchase information, contact me @ kellybenefieldart@charter.net

This is my contribution to the Virtual Paintout blog. I selected this image because of the color and shadows. Corsica is a very beautiful place and I really enjoyed searching for a reference image.