Portrait of a Redheaded Flapper – sold

Oil on canvas, 10″x8″

This is a portrait of a lovely redhead flapper girl. She manages the rare feat of being sweet and sultry at the same time. From her finger waved hair and Cupid’s Bow lips to her pretty ruffled blouse, she looks elegantly vintage and ready for high tea. As I painted her she seemed so charming and fresh that I used a spring green background to complement her peachy tones.

I’ve enjoyed painting these portraits of flappers inspired by old black and white photos of silent film stars, The source material is usually somewhat vague and lacking in detail which is normally not ideal for portrait painting but that helps me to be more creative in my interpretation. The images give me a starting point to convey distinct moods and emotions and the feeling of the era.

September 23, 2018September 23, 2018 by Pat Kelley Categories: PortraitTags: female portrait, figurative painting, flapper, green, oil on canvas, Original art, original oil painting, peach, pretty face oil painting, red lips, redhead Leave a comment

Portrait of Duncan Grant – sold

Oil on canvas, 10″x8″

This is a portrait of Duncan Grant (1885-1978), who was a British artist and central figure in the Bloomsbury Group. I’ve always been a fan of his and that whole artsy, wild Bloomsbury group. They seemed to live exactly as they chose and defied quite a lot of conventions. Duncan was openly gay and loved by many, including the economist John Maynard Keynes and artist Vanessa Bell (Virginia Woolf’s sister) who bore him a daughter and with whom he lived for 40 years until her death in 1961. I tried to capture something of his dreamy beauty, inspired by an old black and white photo and some of his own self-portraits.

I painted this using very traditional portrait methods in layers of glazes over a monochromatic underpainting. This technique creates a great deal of depth although it can also create some variance in the surface gloss as is often seen in antique “ancestor portraits”. I liked how this effect added to a vintage look although it made the painting quite difficult to photograph.

 

 

July 6, 2018 by Pat Kelley Categories: PortraitTags: artist, Bloomsbury Group, Duncan Grant, gay interest, handsome man, male fine art, original oil painting, portrait, Vanessa Bell, Virginia Woolf Leave a comment

Portrait of Renée Perle – sold

Oil on canvas, 10″x8″

This is a portrait of Renée Perle, inspired by a black and white photo taken by Jacques-Henri Lartigue in 1930. She was an early muse of his and possibly something of an obsession during their two year affair. Renée Perle was a model for the couturier Doeuillet at the time of their meeting, remarkable for her exotic beauty and avant-garde style which looks fresh even today. I wanted to give bold color to that sun-soaked, carefree era in the Riviera and capture something of this lovely woman’s unique charm so I portrayed her deeply tanned in white and linen against a teal-tinged wall of Mediterranean Blue.

Prints of this painting are available here

 

May 17, 2018 by Pat Kelley Categories: figurative, PortraitTags: contemporary realism, fashion, female figurative art, female portrait, flapper, Jacques-Henri Lartigue, original oil painting, pretty face, Renée Perle, vintage look Leave a comment

Young Man with Blue Eyes – sold

Oil on canvas, 10″x8″

This is a portrait study of a beautiful dark haired man with pale skin and vivid blue eyes. He’s got a timeless, arresting look about him. I played up the high contrast in his coloring and captured the shimmering quality of the skin highlights. I kept the edges sharp and surrounded him with the color of cool air, the palest yellow-tinged turquoise. The effect is intensely lifelike and rather mesmerizing.

I’m always trying to achieve a certain realism in my paintings while also creating a sense of mood and an inner life. This painting really got there for me, like having someone fascinating in the room and I was happy that others felt that energy too. I was excited that it sold quickly but sad to see him go at the same time.

April 9, 2018 by Pat Kelley Categories: PortraitTags: blue eyes, contemporary realism, figurative painting, fine art, handsome man, male figurative art, male model, male painting, male portrait, original oil painting, representational art 2 Comments

Man Sleeping in Morning Light – sold

Oil on canvas, 12″x9″

This painting is a study of a sleeping man in a room with light pouring in, highlighting his back and the sheets on the bed. I wanted to present the warm colors of the body in contrast to the pale aqua tints of the surrounding room. I kept the brushwork quite loose and painterly while maintaining a high degree of realism.

I like the peaceful atmosphere of these sleeping male figure studies. I’m always trying to create a mood in my work and I feel like I captured calm and quiet in this one.

Fine quality prints of this painting are now available here.

February 11, 2018 by Pat Kelley Categories: figurativeTags: artist, figurative painting, male figurative art, male fine art, man in bed, man nude painting, man sleeping, original male nude, original oil painting, realist, representational paintings 2 Comments

The Wood Nymph – sold

Oil on canvas, 12″x9″

This is my version of a Pre-Raphaelite wood nymph. She’s an ethereal, enchanted creature who wanders unscathed through misty woods in a diaphanous gown. Bedecked with a floral crown and clusters of violets in her flowing locks, she seems a bit wary and ready to take flight.

Inspired by the fanciful art of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, in particular the later work of John William Waterhouse, I kept this painting delicate and impressionistic. I like the effect of the silvery light and the soft brushwork which allows the figure to merge with her natural surroundings. I enjoyed painting this figure within the natural scene and how it hints at a story. This is a theme I may explore further in future.

The original painting is sold but fine art prints in various forms are available here

January 14, 2018January 14, 2018 by Pat Kelley Categories: figurativeTags: beautiful face, boho, ethereal, female figurative art, impressionist, moody, oil painting, pat kelley, Pre-Raphaelite, white, wood nymph 2 Comments

Portrait Study of a Young Woman – sold

Oil on canvas, 12″x9″

In this study I wanted to work on a classic portrait while exploring cool skin tones and looser brushwork. I also wanted to change things up a bit from my more stylized portraits based on black and white photos of ladies from long ago. I found some lovely violets and blues in this portrait of a beautiful dark haired girl with almost translucent skin. The result is a contemporary realist portrait with a lively surface quality and casual elegance.

When I look at my work in retrospect I realize that I favor painting faces and figures but I don’t always have the most consistent style. This is considered a bad thing in the art world but I draw upon different inspirations and get bored painting the same way over and over. It would be nice to have a distinct and recognizable look. I’m hopeful a strong visual identity will emerge in time even if I don’t exactly know how that happens.

January 1, 2018 by Pat Kelley Categories: PortraitTags: beautiful face, boho, contemporary realism, female figurative art, Original art, original oil painting, portrait, process, style, woman with dark hair 4 Comments

Persephone – sold

Oil on canvas, 12″x9″

I was thinking of Persephone, the goddess of spring when I painted this. Winter is only just beginning here, the trees are bare but I’m already dreaming of fresh unfurling leaves and tender budding flowers. There’s something both old-fashioned and modern about this portrait, hints of flower-crowned festival girls, June brides and Pre-Raphaelite beauties.

December 23, 2017 by Pat Kelley Categories: PortraitTags: beautiful face, boho, contemporary realism, female figurative art, flower crown, green, hippie chick, Original art, Pre-Raphaelite, spring, white, woman portrait 1 Comment

Man Sleeping – sold

Oil on Canvas, 10″x8″

This painting is a study in serenity and light movement. I wanted to explore cool flesh tones with soft light and edges. There’s something very calming about a sleeping figure and this is highlighted by the quiet shades of blue throughout. I’ve seen many paintings with sleeping female nudes but I wanted to feature a man instead. It’s an unusual context that gives a vulnerable and tender aspect to the masculine form.

Upon reflection I think that’s what I wanted to capture. That moment of peace. There is no guile or malice in a man asleep. He is free of his conscious torments, childlike and pure. Sleep is a wonderful thing that I rarely get enough of and I like to celebrate these simple, precious things in life.

December 2, 2017 by Pat Kelley Categories: figurativeTags: contemporary realism, fine art, male figurative art, male nude, male painting, man in bed, original oil painting, representational paintings, sleeping man 2 Comments

Blue Moon – sold

 

Oil on canvas, 10″x8″

This painting was inspired by loss and memories, grief and ultimately joy. It’s a portrait of fragility and strength. In studying faces I have found that there is an odd power in openness and vulnerability. It can connect us to the essence of our humanity.

 

October 31, 2017October 31, 2017 by Pat Kelley Categories: PortraitTags: 1920s, blonde, blue moon, contemporary realism, emotion, female figurative art, flapper, moody woman, Original art Leave a comment