New book on portrait painting underway

I just sent in the first phase of my instructional book on portrait painting to my editor. I'm excited, for it's an opportunity to offer more people what I share in my workshops. It'll cover the basics (materials, for instance) as well as give step-by-step instruction on my procedure for painting children, adults, and even posthumous portraits. We're targeting to complete the book by next March. I'll keep you updated on the progress!

"If it can't be done, I'm on it." - John T. Unger

I came across John Unger's work via an announcement on Alyson Stanfield's newsletter. She extended an invitation to hear John speak regarding a lawsuit against him by a competitor who has copied his art designs and is mass-producing them as his own. Yes, it's sad, but John isn't folding, but fighting back against what he calls a viscious strong-arming by a competitor. John's made good efforts to resolve this in an amicable manner, but it seems some people are just, well, ruthless. You can read more about this story at John's site.

While reading about the lawsuit, I got to know John a bit through his "about the artist" page. I smiled when I read his comment "If it can't be done, I'm on it," for it's an outlook that is deeply rooted in my family, stemming back to my Dad and Grandpa Chambers. My kids know that the moment they say "Dad, it's impossible," they've issued a challenge. It's kind of like Marty (Michael J. Fox) in the Back to the Future movies, when he was called "chicken"; um, wrong taunt, guy. Now you've got a battle on your hands. Sounds like John Unger's the same way.

John's already invested over $50,000 into defending his copyright. If you're interested in helping him by purchasing his beautiful work, go to his website and invest in some really cool creations, like the fire pit below.

Portrait Workshop- VA

We endured the tropical heat (upper 90's) and painted away. Armed with palette knives, we captured the sunlight upon our beautiful model, Susanna. I was amazed at how quickly students got used to working with the palette knives and saw their purpose in working with clean color. We learned that "it's easier to tame a wild horse than bring a dead one back to life!"

Indoors we cooled off and painted Drew, our afternoon model. The students focused on form, composition, and achieving a likeness not through the superficial features, but through recognizing the anatomical structure and rhythm particular to Drew.

It was an intense, fun week that zipped by too fast, but we were fast friends. Enjoy the pics!

p.s. if you're interested in future workshops, drop me a line!

Final Summer Kids' Workshop a success

Last week was the final Children's Art Workshop of the summer, and it was great fun. It was a rapid-fire pace, as the kids learned the basics- perspective, drawing, value, color, composition and shapes- all in a week. They even decorated their own frames to complement the copy of a master painting each student made. Tune in to my website for news on the next workshop.

Enjoy the slideshow!

Pictures from kids' art workshops

To truly see what the kids accomplished, and what the workshop experience is all about, take a look at the slideshows below. If you like what you see, join us for the next workshop August 17-21! Sign up here.

Kids' Workshop- younger group

Kids' Workshop- older group

Upcoming Children's Art Workshop!

Following a great time at my recent Children's Art Workshops in July, I'm offering another workshop August 17-21 in Purcellville, Virginia. Click on the flier or visit my website for details.

This isn't your average craft event, either. I'll be teaching the kids the essentials to creating great art: size-shape relationships, perspective, shading (values), color, composition, design, how to mix colors, etc., along with some great techniques for increasing your drawing aptitude such as memory drawing exercises, and so on. Kids will come home with a framed masterpiece, ready for parents to proudly display at home.

I anticipate another great turnout, and look forward to an energetic, fun, productive time together. See you there!

Children's Art Workshop- a great success!

The first two weeks of my Children's Art Workshops are complete, and we all had a fantastic time! The kids really grabbed on to the principles I taught them, and their work showed a marked improvement. I introduced them to drawing in perspective, values, color theory, drawing skills, and memory drawing.

I also gave the kids a chance to create their own frames using mosaic tiles. The kids really enjoyed this part of the event, and the biggest reward was the surprise sense of pride that came when they saw their completed paintings in their frames- a complete masterpiece of their own. Thanks to their parents for the privilege of teaching these great kids.

Fruit- Gentleness

This is the first in my Fruit of the Spirit Series. Gentleness is so rare in our rush-rush day and age. When we do receive it, we are caught by surprise, and sometimes we may even relax and let down our guard. What a difference gentleness makes to our day, to our lives! "A harsh word stirs up anger, but a gentle answer turns away wrath." All of us- children, parents, grandparents, neighbors and strangers- need to experience gentleness to remind us that we are precious and life can be sweet. I am excited about this new series of paintings.

There will be a total of nine paintings in this series- all the same size (approx. 8" x 8"), all depicting in some way one of the nine fruits of the Spirit as depicted in Paul's letter to the Galatians. Prints of these are available here. I hope you enjoy these fruits as much as I do.

New art prints available!

For those of whose collections include fine art prints of your favorite paintings, you can now purchase two of my equine paintings. Just click here to view a variety of prints available of my work at FineArtAmerica.com, which features fine art prints on acid-free premium papers and canvases that, with proper care, will last for generations. Another thing I like about FineArtAmerica.com is their a 30 day no-questions-asked return policy. You can also view original paintings that I have for sale as well. Take a peek! FineArtAmerica.com

"Painting By Her" Oil on Panel 8" x 10"

This is one of my most favorite memories of the past year. One day while I was painting in the studio my wife Kim comes in and says "You have got to go with me to paint down the road!" I gathered the easels, Kim rounded up the kids, and off we went. Though Kim is not an artist, she wishes she were, and has a great eye for beauty nonetheless. Drew and Chloe also produced colorful paintings, and it was really cool to see four distinct takes of the same scene. I was Painting By Her (Kim), and it's her painting you see in the bottom right corner my painting (hence the title). A beautiful day, and a beautiful memory that I'm happy to share with you. Hope you enjoy the painting as much as we enjoyed painting them!

Click here if you'd like to order a print of this or other paintings of mine.

Group portraits- a primer

Mrs. Landau with her Flemming & Sydney

There are two kinds of portraits.

Individual. And group.

I'd like to talk about the latter. Having painted portraits now for almost twenty years, I know that artist Joanette Egeli was right when she taught me "A portrait of two people is many times more difficult than two individual portraits." What Joanette was teaching me was that the complexity of individual personalities is a complex thing. Successfully capturing one person on canvas is a feat in itself. Capturing multiple personalities on one canvas is, well, really difficult.

I believe a group portrait is about relationships. As such, group portraits are the cream of the crop, for I believe they truly tap into the essence of life: relationships. How we relate to one another, even how we relate to God, is what makes life sweet or sour, a pleasure or, well, a pain. A good group portrait captures the essence of a family's relationships. I'll be sharing a few examples over the next few blogs to show what I mean.

Today's portrait is one of my favorites. It started out as a commission to paint the older daughter, Flemming, but ended up as a beautiful statement of the love between the mother and her two daughters. This happened sort of by accident, but I love the result.

When I started the sitting with Flemming, I felt that I she wasn't quite relaxed, but stiff. We headed back to the house to discuss options, and sitting in the living room with Mrs. Landau when Flemming came and sat next to her. What was missing in the garden was very evident here. Next to her mother, Flemming was very relaxed, fluid. When her younger sister Sydney joined them on the sofa, also very much at home and secure next to their mother, I was inspired by what I saw. This is what I was after- the love and security that Mrs. Landau offered her children. I proposed we consider painting the three of them together, and I believe the result speaks for itself. I have to say, though, the image you see her doesn't even compare to the original work. It really is a beautiful portrait, and captures in a group portrait what never could have been achieved in an individual portrait, even three individual portraits.

Stay tuned for more on group portraits- from the artist's viewpoint.

This is Claire. She's a sweetheart, and the sister of another sweetheart, Kate, whom I painted a couple years prior.

I love the gentle smile, the welcoming eyes, that so capture Claire. She's the kind of girl I imagine will always be a faithful friend.

The frame is similar in style and size to others that I use for my Children's Head & Shoulders portraits. For such, I include the frame in my portrait fee, so customers know the bottom line when considering me for their children's Head & Shoulders.

I select my frames to best complement each portrait. A frame should be the last thing you notice when you view a portrait- not the first thing!

Up close and beautiful

click on image to enlarge

I often make use of Internet technology to give clients a preview of their portraits. This means that I shoot a digital image of my paintings, edit the image on my computer, then shoot an email to the client with images of their portrait. One of the cool things about digital that I appreciate is the ability to have fun with seeing the amazing detail of a painting, whether it's my own work or that of another artist I admire. When you're looking at a work up close (like 300% normal size!), you really get a feel for all the knowledge that goes into each brushstroke. It's like eavesdropping in on a private conversation. You can see the intricate details that went into the eyes and mouth of Carter (shown in previous post).

One note of caution, though: never proof your portrait this way! Portraits are meant to be viewed from a distance, not under a magnifying glass. However, viewing up close allows one to see the little details that make up the whole, just as we view one's attire, for instance. Enjoy!

A visit with film producer George Escobar

I had lunch today with a good friend who is also a very good up and coming film producer. He is George Escobar (in the center of the picture at right), founder and Executive Director of Advent Film Group, and independent film production and distribution group that is moving to make a difference in culture by creating wholesome films and training filmmakers for these films. Their first feature-length film, Come What May, has received strong reviews, and they're already working on their next three films.

My friendship with George began when he attended my painting class about five years ago. Instantly I saw that I had someone extraordinarily talented to work with, and was very excited to have such a talented student to work with, both for his benefit, and mine, as I took it as a challenge, and I love challenges (just ask my kids what happens when they say such and such "just can't be done."). Assuming he'd been at this for a lifetime, I asked, "So, George, who are some of the people you've studied with?" His reply- "Um, this is my first class." Not his first class with me, but his first class ever. Well, George has a large appetite for learning, second only to his desire for excellence. We have since visited museums, talked film, swung hammers, squeeze in breakfasts and lunches when we can get away from our busy schedules, and of course, we talk shop every time. He has invited me to be a part of the production design for his next film, and I am up for another challenge. I've got a bit 0' studyin' to do, George says. The roles are reversed for the time being- I'm the student and he's the teacher. Okay, George, give it to me.

Pajama party

I love when a customer shares their mind and heart, and then says: "Tim, can you capture that?"

Tonya in Greensboro, a mother of two handsome young boys, asked me if I could capture her boys as she sees them every morning- crashing on her and her husband's bed for a pajama party. My answer was "Of course!" Accomplishing the vision was a bit more difficult than my quick reply, and certainly took longer (sometimes I envy the photographers...my job is only beginning when I view my sitting photos!).

After many shots and bribes of yet another bag of candy, we were able to compile a good collection of photos capturing Andrew and his younger brother Carter, not to mention Ducky, Frog (who didn't make the final cut into the portrait), favorite books, and Thomas the Train. Of course I took note of the fine fabrics on Tonya's pillows. :)