World War II Portrait: The Rich Details Exposed

I enjoy going to estate sales. It is a chance to have a look into someone else's life and imagine who they were and what they were like. To see a part of their history, a time capsule of sorts, just by viewing their belongings. I feel that way about this painting. I wish I could personally thank Pete and the person who took this photo. The rich details exposed here are rare and so interesting. Once again, I am experiencing the privilege of painting objects (and a portrait) that have captured my attention and enriched my life.

World War II Portrait: Painting Someone's Vision

A new commission is always exciting to me because I have the challenge of painting someone's vision that I adopt as my own. Plus, there is the story behind the painting which never fails to intrigue me. And so now I enter into the story of Hjalmer "Pete", the son of Swedish immigrants who settled in Saint Paul, Minnesota. This photo was taken in 1941 when he was drafted into the  U.S. army. My goal is to capture him on canvas using a black and white reference photo while transforming it into color. After lightly painting the composition in with a thin wash of oil paint, I am ready to begin. Stay tuned, this is going to be fun!