Tuesday 15 July, live demo by Robin Danely – a Portrait in Oils, 7.30pm Centre 70
Capturing Character in Oils
We were delighted to welcome American portrait artist Robin Danely to Wallingford Art Club this month, where 14 members and a guest were treated to an inspiring live demonstration of portraiture in oils.
Robin, who lives in Oxford and has featured on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year, shared her dynamic and expressive approach to painting from life. Working at pace and with a loose, intuitive style, she began by mapping out the shape and tilt of the model’s head: what she called “the architecture of a good likeness.”
Painting on paper, she swiftly coloured the background to knock out the stark white of the surface. “I get rid of the white so I can see the features,” she explained. “I’m trying to understand the light on the form.”
Robin works with the limited but powerful Zorn palette—yellow ochre, ivory black, cadmium red and titanium white—and prefers large brushes to keep her focus on bold strokes and tonal values rather than fussy detail.
“I start general, then focus. I want to create a painting that’s alive, where you can see the brush marks and structure. The joy of working from life is having a record of my observation.”
Layer by layer, she built up the image, constantly exploring light, shadow and colour, returning only at the end to refine details and likeness.
It was a fascinating insight into the mind of a contemporary portraitist and a great evening of learning and inspiration for all who attended.
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Robin’s website is at: www.robindanely.com
Free to members. Non-members welcome (£5 payable on the night).
To reserve your place at Centre 70, please email admin@wallingfordartclub.org.uk
