Painting The Nude Figure From Life

I'm very excited about my first workshop in the Back Loft. 
It's a lovely roomy and atmospheric venue to paint in.
Click on the link below for more info or to book a place.

I look forward to seeing some of you there on the day!
http://pjlynch.bigcartel.com/product/painting-the-nude-figure-from-life-with-pj-lynch

Nude in The Moth

The Moth is a pretty cool arts and literature magazine produced by Rebecca O'Connor and Will Govan. My nude study of Keshet is in their latest issue illustrating a very atmospheric short story by John Boyne, called Empire Tour.

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

Model On A Tiled Floor

I haven't posted this one before either as I wasn't entirely happy with the life painting in it's raw state.
So I have simplified the tonal values and added the checked floor.
The tiled pattern can be a wonderful device for adding interest and depth at the same time.

Life Painting of Karen

I've been hunting through my store of life paintings for some upcoming exhibitions.

This one of Karen is from about three years ago.

I quite like its completeness, but mostly I tend to leave my paintings rougher and more unfinished now.

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.

Visit 2013

I am putting together a wall of life paintings in the hall outside my studio for Visit on Saturday 11th May.

Visit is a city-wide open studio day. 

In Dublin City, artist’s studios old and new exist in a variety of buildings including industrial warehouses, Georgian buildings, converted stables and former shop units. You might not be aware that the building on the corner or down the road from your house is actually a hub of artistic activity. If you have ever been curious about what goes on inside an artists studios, Visit 2013 is your chance to find out! 

You are welcome to come an visit us La Catedral Studios and The Back Loft.

Most of the artists, including el Presidente, Anthony, will be here from noon till 6pm and there should be a great atmosphere. There is also the added attraction of Feel Free to Jam, where musicians are invited to bring their instruments and jam around our piano at the back Loft.

I'll be rushing up to the studio after my portraiture workshop at Kennedy Art, so I will be here between 4pm and 6pm. 
I hope to see some of you then.

Two Portrait Sketches

Yesterday at life drawing I got in some practice for my upcoming portrait sketch workshop at Kennedy Art. This tighter than usual study of Molly took about four hours.

Then I did a quick portrait sketch (2 hours) of Des.
With his powerful body and those granite features Des can look very stern and a bit scary when he's posing, but in reality he is a sweet and very gentle man.
Thanks to my pal Blaise Smith for inviting me along.

Life Study of Joanne, Revisited.

I have just tidied up the background of this life study of Joanne for a forthcoming exhibition.
This is one of my favourite nude portraits.
Don't forget my portrait workshop at Kennedy Art in May.

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 Hour Portrait Study

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

Two Nude Studies

Here are a couple of female life studies from the last weeks of the life sessions at the RHA before the summer recess.
Stephanie is above and Hannah is below.

Leo, the Cyclist

Leo was our model last week.
He is a lovely Japanese guy with an amazing physique, and a crazy hairstyle.
I would love to get a chance to paint him again, but it won't be possible as he is off again on his round-the-world cycling trip.

A Half Finished Nude

It has been getting quite turbulent recently at the life session I attend, which is a great shame. The life room should be a friendly sanctuary for concentrated study of a model.
Here is a painting I did of one of our new models, Louise.
She found she couldn't hold the pose so we had to abandon it half way through the afternoon.
I didn't mind too much though as I like the unfinished, sketchy effect in this one.

A Useful Experiment

Here's one from a few weeks ago.
I tried to control the overall colour scheme ( the back cloth was actually a pretty lurid green), and I left most of the brushmarks buttery and thick rather than blending them in the way I usually do.
A useful experiment I think.

A Study of Rudolpho

Rudolpho is a new model for our group.
I was delighted that Una posed him without any strip lights or spotlights, and the natural light stayed pretty true throughout the afternoon.
The warm glow at Rudolpho's back comes from one of our large heaters.

A Watercolour Life Study

Here's a watercolour I did from life at the UAC life room.
It was a twenty five minute pose and I would have loved more time on it, but, looking at it now, I like that sketchy spontaneity that having to work fast gives you.

Two Hour Colour Study

Back to the painting.
This is a two hour study I did of Joanna yesterday.

Life Study of Molly

Molly is another new model for our life drawing group.
I spent four hours painting her yesterday.
This series shows the process.









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A Study of Alicia in Five Steps

Here are a series of shots showing my process in painting a two and a half hour study of Alicia.
She is a new model to me and I am very much looking forward to painting her again.