Find The Best Oil Portrait Artist In Nyc


By Iva Cannon


So many people are finding that painting is a way to relax and a means of understanding of whom they are. It is a form of expression and many go on to become well known. There is more than one oil portrait artist in NYC that has began this exact way.

Paintings that are done with oil have been around since the twelfth century in Europe and they were done for decoration purposes. It only became an artist's method around the fifteenth century. It has of late been used in paint on glass animation; this is a way of making animation films by using the slow drying paint on large sheets of glass. A Russian by the name of Aleksandr Petrov has won many awards with this method and has used them in seven different films.

Many say that starting with the hair is the easiest. For the darker tones there is a combination of sienna, cadmium orange, crimson and viridian. For the lighter areas white, yellow ochre, viridian as well as cadium red and permanent green is used. In order to eliminate a yellow or blue tint to blond hair a purple-ish tint is mixed up.

He is also an associate of the faculty at the School of Visual Arts in New York and has held that position for over thirty five years. Painters of portraits seek him out from all around the world in order to obtain his expertise. Being able to attend his workshops and classes is an opportunity that many try desperately to attend.

In 1987 Nanette graduated and went on to get her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from The School of Visual Arts. For her exceptional achievement she received the Rhodes Family Award. While there she met John F. Murray who later became her mentor. He taught her how to paint, refine her picture making and drawing skills and under his guidance she painted replicas of Van Dyke, Rembrandt as well as Velazquez and LeBrun.

The advantage of having slow drying paints is that the artist has a chance to make corrections or changes. The disadvantage is that it can take as long as a few months or even years to be completed. They do however have the ability to blend very well with other colors making details such as shadows and light possible. Many artists take advantage of using different thinning agents so that the portrait can be done in layers.

Her workshops in Portrait Drawing cover the heart of capturing the physical resemblance as well as the personality and inner essence of the model. The most important technique that is taught in this class is the ability to develop the appearance as well as the gesticulation and the atmosphere of the model. Demonstrations always take place and she will offer individual critiques.

Many of the pigments that are used are very toxic while some such as acetoarsenite and orpiment have been taken away completely. There are however many that is still in use such as cadmium and vermillion which are yellows and reds. Many blue colorings are made with cobalt arsenate which is made up of arsenic and sulfur as well as ten percent of iron and nickel.




About the Author: