Tag Archives: alla prima

I Painted Kelsey at Epoch Coffee

November 2, 2008 – 9:29 pm

Kelsey was at Epoch Coffee this morning, applying to colleges on her mom’s laptop.  She is past-president of the Latin club at her high school, where she is on the distinguished track.  She said that she hates these college applications because they all want the student to prove their leadership skills.  She said that she […]

By Lavanna Martin | Posted in alla prima, art, oil painting, painting, portrait sketch, portraiture | Also tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (19)

Portrait Vignette of Lacey at Cafe Caffeine

October 22, 2008 – 4:47 pm
By Lavanna Martin | Posted in alla prima, art, figure painting, oil painting, painting, portrait sketch, portraiture | Also tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (6)

Painting a Portrait From Life

October 12, 2008 – 1:24 am

I painted this alla prima portrait of this man on the patio of Spider House.  I wanted the flesh of his face to add life to his surroundings.  He was hemmed in the booth by 5 other college students, so he was the perfect live model.  He sat so still, that I should have paid […]

By Lavanna Martin | Posted in alla prima, oil painting, painting, portrait sketch, portraiture | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments (4)

Painting From Life at a Coffee House

October 9, 2008 – 6:11 pm

I painted this beautiful man from life at Spider House Coffee here in Austin, TX.  I loved his dreadlocks.  Painting from life is always tricky, because you don’t know how long people will stay, or stay put!   As an artist,  I never rely on photography, but paint the figure “live”. Here is another painting […]

By Lavanna Martin | Posted in alla prima, figure painting, painting, painting technique, portrait sketch, portraiture | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (12)

Painting by Bicycle

October 1, 2008 – 1:23 am

I just got back from painting at Halcyon Coffee House and Bar on Fourth Street, which is about 45 city blocks from my house.  It was a very easy ride with a lot of one-way streets after I entered the university area. I was more careful to pack my crate and balance it after falling […]

By Lavanna Martin | Posted in art, Oil Sketches Live at Coffee Houses, painting, sketches | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (4)

Mr. Penguin at Spider House

September 29, 2008 – 9:22 pm

This fellow was sitting at the back room at Spider House on Fruth Street here in Austin. He was amused by something that he was reading on his laptop.  I decided to paint him with the dark background of the long-leaf pine walls.  The only lighting was from an antique wall sconce which cast an […]

By Lavanna Martin | Posted in alla prima, art, figure painting, painting, portrait sketch, portraiture, sketches | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment