"Dutch" - Pet Portrait Commission Painting

My latest dog portrait commission. I had to wait until after the 25th to post this one, as it was a Christmas present.

 

There's always something exciting about painting a black lab, finding all of those subtle values and color changes within the dog's coat. As always, I had a blast. I never tire of painting dogs.

 

"Dutch" • Oil on Linen • 12" x 16" • Private Collection

Painting photo by Saunders Fine Arts

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Art Review "Hudson River View" by Julian Onderdonk

For my last #MuseumTourTuesday of the year, I'd like to share a piece by San Antonio native Julian Onderdonk from the collection of the San Antonio Museum of Art.

The composition masterfully moves us through the space, guided by the flow of the hanging laundry, leading at last to to the steeple towering over the tenements. 

 

Onderdonk pursued a career as a plein air painter in New York, where he relocated after a few years of study with the famous American Impressionist William Merritt Chase. The artist returned to San Antonio in 1909, so based on the date of the painting, it may have been created from some preliminary studies, or he may have returned to the city for a short period in 1912. 

 

Onderdonk went on to be called the "father of Texas painting," and three of his works graced the walls of the Oval Office during the administration of George W. Bush.

 

"Hudson River View" • Julian Onderdonk • Oil on Canvas • 18" x 12" • 1912

 

Painting photo by Saunders Fine Arts.

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all!

"Holiday Star" • Oil on Linen • 9"x12"

  

Reference and painting photos by Saunders Fine Arts

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Southwest Art Magazine - 2021 Artistic Excellence Competition

Thank you to Southwest Art Magazine for choosing this painting as a runner up in this year's Artistic Excellence Competition.

With its combination of figures, colors and patterns, this piece reminds me of just how much we have to celebrate as we head into the holiday weekend.

 

"Amor a la Vida" • Oil on Linen • 48" x 38" • Private Collection

 

Painting and reference photos by Saunders Fine Arts

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. 

Art Review - "Picking Cotton" by Jose Arpa - San Antonio Art League & Museum

One more painting to share from the San Antonio Art League & Museum for this week's #MuseumTourTuesday.

Spanish artist Jose Arpa first visited San Antonio at the turn of the 20th Century, and opened a studio and art school there in 1923.

 

This piece won first prize in the 1929 Edgar B. Davis Wildflower Competition. 

 

"Picking Cotton" • Jose Arpa • Oil on Canvas • 30" x 40" • 1929

I am particularly struck by the face of the young boy featured as the central figure. While the majority of the painting is rendered in a more impressionistic, broken color style, the boy's face is carefully rendered. 

 

"Picking Cotton" Detail • Jose Arpa • Oil on Canvas • 30" x 40" • 1929

 

Notice in this closeup how the thickness of the paint builds up in conjunction with the lighter areas. I also love that blue reflection of the sky in the dark hair. Notice also the translucency of the ear on the right, which further adds to the sense of bright sunlight.

 

Painting photo by Saunders Fine Arts

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Event Juror - 2022 Cape Ann Plein Air Festival

I'm honored to have been asked to judge the 2022 Cape Ann Plein Air Festival!

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Painting From The Model - The Coppini Academy of Fine Art

Here is this week's study from an open model session at the Coppini Academy.

This is once again painted over an older painting. The lighting on the model was much dimmer than I normally work with, and this softer light contributed to the undefined edges throughout the portrait.

 

"Portrait Study" • 9" x 12 • Oil on Linen • 1.75 Hours

Painting photo by Saunders Fine Arts.

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

 

December 2021 Art Newsletter - The Ever Evolving Process

It may look effortless, but science has proven that even master artists make changes throughout their process.

Sign up for my latest art newsletter on the importance of keeping an open mind.

 

http://bit.ly/PSFA-Newsletter-Sign-up

 

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Art Review - "The Horse Wrangler" by W. Herbert Dunton

Kimberly and I were finally able to visit the San Antonio Art League & Museum this past week. While only a portion of the collection is on view at any given time, the work displayed does not disappoint. This painting by Herb Dunton, now considered one of the jewels of the league's collection, was submitted to the 1928 San Antonio Competitive Exhibition, and surprisingly won only an honorable mention.

The stylized flowing shapes of Dunton's work have influenced a number of contemporary western painters. In this particular piece, the rider is the focal point, but for me it's the horse and foreground shrubs that stand out as masterful. The warm, lit edges of the forms portray an incredible sense of depth despite the overall simplicity of the shapes.

 

"The Horse Wrangler" • W. Herbert Dunton • Oil on Canvas • 25" x 20" • 1928

 

Painting photo by Saunders Fine Arts

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Painting From The Model - The Coppini Academy of Fine Art

Here is this week's study from an open model session at the Coppini Academy. Once again, I painted over an older painting, which starts the process with an interesting texture.

 

"Kyle" • 10" x 12 • Oil on Linen • 1.5 Hours

 

Painting photo by Saunders Fine Arts 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Botanical Art - "Patterns In Blue & Green"

This painting is inspired by the work of my wife, Kimberly. She's always been fascinated by the natural patterns of nature, which are often the subject of her photography.

Leaves were something that I once took for granted in my floral paintings. They were just garnish for the bright, colorful petals of the flowers. Kimberly's work has given me a much greater appreciation for the subtle greens and overlapping shapes that create wonderful patterns wherever anything grows. The leaves are a worthy subject all on their own.

 

"Patterns In Blue & Green" • Oil on Linen • 12" x 16" • Available at PatrickSaunders.com

Painting photo by Saunders Fine Arts

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Art Review - "Flowers of Gold" by Henry James Soulen

I'm fascinated with this painting by Henry James Soulen. Another talented student of the great American illustrator, Howard Pyle, Soulen also studied with N.C. Wyeth, Frank Schoonover and Jesse Wilcox Smith.

The design of this piece is overwhelmingly complex, and yet it is masterfully controlled. What I find most interesting is the overall red/orange color cast which adds so much richness and mood to the image. Despite this dominant color shift, Soulen pushes bright notes of other colors in key areas to move our eyes through the scene in a deliberate manner.

 

 "Flowers of Gold" • Henry James Soulen • Oil on Canvas • c. 1930s

• 26.5" x 30.5" • Private Collection

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

SOLD - "Bay Breeze" Plein Air Landscape Painting

My thanks to the Trippe Gallery for sending this Plein Air Easton Competition and Arts Festival piece home with a new collector.

 

"Bay Breeze" • Oil on Linen • 18" x 24" • Private Collection

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Painting From The Model - The Coppini Academy of Fine Art

Here is this week's study from an open model session at the Coppini Academy.

If you're wondering about the textural quality of the board, this one is painted over an older painting. Prior to creating the study, I covered the older painting with a layer of white Winsor & Newton Griffin Alkyd and then lightly stained it. This is a great way to recycle older paintings and creates some interesting and unexpected textural effects.

 

"Portrait Study" • 14" x 18 • Oil on Linen • 1.5 Hours

Painting photo by Saunders Fine Arts.

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Spring 2022 Booth Art Academy Painting Workshops - Filling Fast

Georgia artist friends, my painting workshops at the Booth Western Art Museum’s Booth Art Academy next spring are filling fast, so sign up now to secure your spot.

My Painting Without Borders class is on May 1st - 3rd, 2022, and my Dynamic Floral in Oils workshop is on May 4th - 6th.

Click on either link below for more information, and to register:

https://bit.ly/Patrick-Saunders-Booth-Museum-Workshop-2022

https://bit.ly/Patrick-Saunders-Booth-Museum-Floral-Workshop-2022

I’m really looking forward to returning to the Booth. It’s a premier teaching facility, and I want to thank Kent Mullinax and the entire staff in advance for all of their hard work in making the academy such a first-class art education destination.

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Art Review - "Portrait of Alice Dieudonneed Chase" by William Merritt Chase

For this week's #MuseumTourTuesday, here is another great piece from the McNay Art Museum's collection. William Merritt Chase created a number of portraits of his eldest daughter Alice. This one clearly demonstrates the artist's skill in simplification. This is especially noticeable in the eyes. There's almost nothing to them. Notice how the dark pupil of the eye and the line of the eyelid are one shape.

I also have to point out the simplicity of the flowers. They are made up of only a few values with a slight color temperature variation, yet they read as very complex in the context of the broader brushstrokes throughout the portrait.

 

"Portrait of Alice Dieudonnée Chase" • William Merritt Chase • Oil on Panel • 1899

Painting photo by Saunders Fine Arts.

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

November 2021 Art Newsletter - Go With The Flow

Your choice of paint is the most important decision regarding art materials, and all brands are definitely not equal. 

Sign up for my latest newsletter on how the right paint can not only enhance the color in your paintings, but give you more control during the entire process.

http://bit.ly/PSFA-Newsletter-Sign-up

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Happy Thanksgiving!

For us, the best part of the holidays is cooking up a storm. Just like with painting, the process of it all is as enjoyable as the result. What's better than a kitchen filled with food, fun, and family?

Kimberly and I wish you and yours a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

 

"Heart of a Home" • Oil on Linen • 18"x24" • Private Collection

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Art Review - "Two Seated Figures, 1965" by Wayne Thiebaud

Kimberly and I were fortunate to be able to view the Wayne Thiebaud 100 exhibit currently on display at the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas. While the exhibit celebrates the artist's 100th birthday, his 101st birthday was just this past week.

"Two Seated Figures, 1965" • Wayne Thiebaud • Oil on Canvas • 60" x 72"

Thiebaud is primarily known for his paintings of common place objects such as pies, pastries and ice cream cones, but also has a large body of work featuring landscapes and figures. It's these figure paintings in which I see a strong connection to early 20th Century American illustration.

Thiebauld's figure paintings bring to mind the fashion illustration work of J.C. Leyendecker. This stems from both the nondescript spaces that the figures are contained within, but also the very consistent and formulaic way in which the artist applies paint to the canvas.

The paint application was so important to Leyendecker's work that it became a trade secret. I can only assume that Thiebaud has a familiarity with the iconic illustrator's work due to his early career at Walt Disney Studios.

Even more interesting in Thiebaud's work is the rich color he adds to the edges within his paintings. These primary and secondary color lines add a richness and excitement to the paintings. Also notice in this closeup the careful way in which the artist handles the textural qualities of the background paint.

"Two Seated Figures, 1965" Detail • Wayne Thiebaud • Oil on Canvas • 60" x 72"

Painting photos by Saunders Fine Arts.

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Painting From The Model - The Coppini Academy of Fine Art

It was a pleasure to be able to paint a couple of quick studies at the Coppini Fine Arts Academy's open model sessions this week.

Due to the pandemic, I haven't been able to paint from the live model in almost two years, and I'm feeling a bit rusty. Time to get back into practice!

 

"Dana" • 12" x 16" • Oil on Linen • 2 Hours

 

"Travis" • 12" x 16" • Oil on Linen • 1 Hour

Painting photos by Kimberly at Saunders Fine Arts.

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Throwback Thursday - "The Pink Rose" - Floral Painting

I'm working on a new series of florals for an upcoming show in the spring of 2022. In the meantime, here's one of my favorite roses for #ThrowbackThursday.

This flower jumped out it me like a star, and I mean that literally. I rarely see all of those sharp points in a rose. This was painted four years ago for a previous floral show.

 

"The Pink Rose" • 8" x 8" • Oil on Linen • Private Collection

Painting photo by Saunders Fine Arts.

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Art Review - "Voices in the Night" by John Moyers

It was great to be back at the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas this past weekend. One of the pieces that struck me most on this visit was this excellent painting by American artist John Moyers.

The horse and rider emerge from the darkness of the trees through an expert handling of color saturation. One gets the sense of a dramatic story as the figure peers back into the darkness looking for someone. It's a great example of how a painting can tell a deeper story about what's not depicted within the confines of the frame through suggestion alone. 

 

"Voices in the Night" • John Moyers • Oil on Canvas • 1997

Painting photo by Saunders Fine Arts

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Veteran's Day

In honor of all who've served, wishing you a Happy Veteran's Day. Thank you for your service.

 

"Poppies" • 12" x 16" • Oil on Linen • Private Collection

 

Painting photo by Saunders Fine Arts.

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Art Review - "Iris At Dawn" by Maria Oakey Dewing

This past weekend, during one of my workshops, I was asked who I considered to be my favorite floral painters. While there are many, one of my top choices is definitely Maria Oakey Dewing. I've featured her work in a previous #MuseumTourTuesday post, but not this specific painting. This piece is part of the collection of the Hood Museum of Art in Hanover, New Hampshire.

Irises are beautiful flowers, but Dewing goes beyond the blooms and creates a lush tapestry of foliage. That's what I admire most about her work. There's no vase or carefully cropped bouquet. Her florals can't be contained, and burst through the confines of the canvas. One gets the sense that turning in any direction will reveal more. We're not just admiring the flowers in her painting, we are surrounded by them.

Maria collaborated on a number of paintings with her husband, Thomas Wilmer Dewing, who went on to overshadow her own career. She often painted the floral portions of his compositions, and rarely signed her name.

 

Sadly, she regretted her own career later in life, believing that she had not realized her full potential, and feeling unable to compete with her husband. I for one think that she deserves a much more elevated stature among the most well known American artists.

 

"Iris At Dawn" • Maria Oakey Dewing • Oil on Canvas • 64 x 79.5 cm • 1899

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Pet Portrait Demonstration Painting - Day Three - Coppini Academy Workshop

My pet portrait demonstration painting this morning on day three of my latest painting workshop at the Coppini Academy.

“Orange Tabby Cat Study” • 12" x 16" • Oil on Linen • 1.5 Hours

• Available soon at www.PatrickSaunders.com

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Patrick Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.