Naked Portrait of Darren: Process Pix

Some process pix of a life painting I did of Darren.
The technique I use at my workshops is a simplified version of this.

 My portrait sketch workshop in September at Kennedy Art has been set for Saturday the 6th.
I look forward to seeing some of you then.
info@kennedyart.com
ph + 353 (1) 475 1749

A Profile Study of Alicja

I got a chance to do this little study of Alicja while I was teaching a lovely group of artists at the RHA yesterday. 

Alicja is a beautiful girl, but it is difficult to catch a likeness of her because she has such strong features. I was pretty pleased with this effort though.

My class did really well working in charcoal and emphasising tone over line. I'll get some shots of the group next week.

PJ Drawn by Phelim

I love this sketch that Phelim Connolly did of me painting at the RHA life drawing session yesterday.
He really got me, and I hadn't a notion I was being drawn.

The RHA Drawing Marathon

I'm looking forward to facilitating at the RHA Drawing Marathon tomorrow.

Molly will be one of the models.
Here is a drawing I did of her last week at Brian's life session at the United Arts Club.

Three Hour Study of Darren

I've been thinking a bit more methodically recently about my life painting process coming up to my portraiture workshop and demo at Kennedy Art this Saturday.
On the basis that a picture is worth a thousand words I am showing the process of how I painted this study of Darren over a three hour period at the RHA recently.
The pictures were taken at half hourly intervals.

Back in the Life Room

A day of life painting at the RHA is a pretty rare event for me these days, but yesterday I was  able to get in and to see some great old pals and to work with two excellent models, Des and Darren.
Here is the picture I did of Des in the afternoon and a shot of the man himself at my easel which will give you a sense of the small scale of the painting.

Two Views of Des

Staying on the black and white theme, I thought that one of Conor Walton's recently posted drawings of the RHA life room looked very familiar.
On closer inspection I realized that the model is Des and that the guy in the white t-shirt is me drawing him.

This is the drawing I did of Des that day.

I always love to see the same subject as depicted by different artists.

Conor has a show of his extraordinary still life paintings entitled "Elements" running now at the Beaux Arts gallery in Bath.
If you aren't in the UK you can see a number of Conor's wonderful life drawings here.

Two Hour Portrait Study

It was nice to be back painting at the RHA last week.
This is the portrait study I did of Aine.

My Life Drawing Workshop

Here are a few images from the workshop I did last week at the RHA in Dublin.

I was lucky to have a lovely bunch of attendees, and everyone agreed that our models were outstanding. 

We had a lot of fun with the lighting and costumes and a great deal of hard work was done too.

Altogether it was a hugely enjoyable experience.

Life Room Studies.....With Added Drama

I am looking forward to doing a few teaching workshops in November.    

This one is at the RHA in Dublin, and I am hoping it will be enjoyable for those of us who are sometimes frustrated by the boring poses and stale lighting arrangements that we often encounter at life drawing sessions. I will be playing about with shadow and costume and I will be choosing models who enjoy hamming it up a bit in their poses. Click on this link if you want to join us. Here's the blurb:"As an illustrator P.J. Lynch makes pictures with a strong narrative core. This interest will be reflected in his three day life room workshop.Working with male and female models posed nude, partially draped and clothed, the emphasis will be on more dramatic poses and varied lighting arrangements. Beginning with shorter studies the poses will increase in length through the course of the workshop. Various drawing media will be used and painting will be in oils or acrylic. This workshop will appeal to those with experience in life drawing and an interest in illustrative, narrative picture-making."Please note that although the workshop is on the 14th to the 16th of November, you have to apply for a place by Friday the 7th of October.

Joanna: Progression of a Life Study

In preparation for my talk at the RHA, I put together this series of shots showing the progression of a life painting of Joanna.
In terms of composition and resolution of the figure I think this is one of my most sucessful life paintings.

"Adventures in the Life Room"

This Wednesday, 12th of October, I will be giving a talk at the RHA titled "Adventures in the Life Room", in which I will be discussing my passion for painting from the live model.
Alas I don't have too many adventures as racy as this book cover to relate, but hopefully it will still be be stimulating artistically.

The RHA Autumn series lectures are open to the public and will be held in the Friends Room of the RHA starting at 6pm on Wednesday evenings.
The lectures are free.
The RHA welcomes a suggested donation of €5 per lecture, which can be made to our donations box in the foyer.
Prior booking is not required for the lectures, early arrival is suggested to ensure your place.
If you require further information or have any questions about the lecture series, please contact the Academy Co-ordinator, Ciara Timlin, phone 01 6612558 or email ciara@rhagallery.ie

The RHA Summer Fête.

I did a couple of quick portrait heads of our models at the life session yesterday.
This one shows Amanda, who had white dreadlocks when we met her last.
It was good practice for tomorrow when I will be drawing portraits at the RHA Summer Fête..
Thursday buddies Una Sealy ARHA and Emily Scott will also be on portrait-drawing duty.
It looks like it should be a fun event. Here's the blurb;

"Planning what to do this weekend? Don't worry about the weather and come and join us for our Summer Fête. (all indoors) this Saturday 18th, 3 - 7pm. A family fun day with music, face painting, childrens workshop, RHA cake stand and much more. Just €10 for adults & children go free. Please come along and support our Summer fundraiser."

A Busy Week for Exhibitions

Tuesday night was the opening of the RHA’s annual open submission show.
It was a great occasion and a lot of folks were very kind about the two pictures (above) that I have in the exhibition.

Wednesday saw the opening of the RUA’s War On Want Charity show at the Ormeau Baths gallery in Belfast. I have a picture (below) in that exhibition too, and I was delighted to hear from the organizers that it was the first to sell when the catalogues were sent out.

A New Life Model

I've been really busy doing another poster job and so I couldn't make it in to my Thursday Life Drawing session. I was a bit annoyed because I heard there was going to be an unusual new model.


I must say I thought the artists would be lucky to get a few quick sketches of Toby the pony, but from the slideshow and the TV report (courtesy of Una Sealy and Brian Gallagher) it looks as if some great work was done.

Life Room

A few of my life paintings, including this one of Des, are in a group show opening tomorrow (Tuesday) night at the Bourn Vincent Gallery
Foundation Building, University of Limerick

The drawings and paintings in the show have been selected by Mick O'Dea and Donald Teskey from work produced by various artists at the Drawing Thursday Sessions in the Royal Hibernian School


The exhibition will be opened by Mick O'Dea RHA and Donald Teskey RHA
If you happen to be in the area, go along to the reception. It starts at 5.15pm but alas, I can't make it myself..... I'm still packing boxes.

A Nude Life Painting in Six Stages

I remembered to take a photo of my painting of Emma during each of the breaks in our morning session at the RHA yesterday.
The photo quality isn't great, and I apologise for the shaky first image, but I think this series shows very well how I develop one of my life studies.
Yesterday was our Christmas party in the life room, which accounts for the appearance of a half empty wine bottle in the last picture.

Clown Johnny K revisited

Here's another life painting I did of Johnny K.
Mick O'Dea's very fine study from the same day's painting is in the present show at the RHA in Dublin.