"Cold Snap"

Okay, This is done, I'm stopping. It's still bright and fresh and kind of whimsical(which I like).

This latest painting on wood jag has produced some great pieces, this one is 18" x 24" and has a bit of a graphic quality about it. I'll have a frame on this soon- a moulding that I picked out over at Tuxedo Frame Gallery in Buckhead. They do really great framing design there. They are located where the Pearl art supply used to be on Roswell Rd. Then I will post a photo of the finished piece here, framed and ready to hang.

"Angel Fury"

Here is a detail from a large oil on canvas, 36" x 48".

This is a work in progress as well. I hope to have it finished soon and ready to present. I think I need some of those wood panels at this size 36" x 48" and larger.

New Work,"Gardenia"

This is another painting featuring a romanticized female figure with equine, I have been working on this off and on for quite a while, but I've made some real progress of late (I think that I just got a little mad at it; not her, just the painting, and fearlessly attacked the canvass with a large brush this time) by painting over some areas with warm, reddish greens and it softened it up a bit. I'm always learning by trial and error, and I have found that layers of paint (with the layer beneath showing through) creates depth. I still have a ways to go on this one, I think I am going to apply some contrasting color to her dress.

I don't know, I might have gotten in over my head with this one.

New paintings on birch panel

Hey, This is a painting I just finished, kind of a series. I'm painting consistantly at one size: 24" x 24" square on birch wood panels. I really like the surface because it's hard like paper (no give like canvas) and it's smooth unless you want to embellish with your own texture. I just put a few coats of gesso on and sand in between layers, but I have heard of artists mixing in pummice or applying paste. That smooth, hard surface also allows for drawing media like charcoal or pastel in conjunction with the paint. Anyway, I'm excited with the results. Keeping with the equine theme, I'm exploring with this square format for a while. I have also picked out some nice frame mouldings for these. Of course, these are for sale, contact me if your interested: studioandrew@yahoo.com

I like this one, "Joan the Triumphant". I have alway's been facinated with Joan of Arc, because she was a warrior and Marytered Saint, I guess I share a somewhat romantic notion of her character that has been shaped by books and art and film. When I painted the figure on the horse, it eventually took form and reminded me of Joan of Arc, so I titled it such.
Titles are an interesting subject on their own. Sometimes they are obvious during the working process, a few words that pop into your head while painting, not a literal interpretation, but hopefully, a more personally connected phrase. But some have no title and it's best not to lead the viewer in any direction; The viewer can interperet it on their own terms and connect words of their own.

Red Horse Now

Red Horse, 30" x 40", oil on canvas. SOLD
Well, I think that I'll sign it, and it's done.

New Work

" Three Angels Waiting", 36" x 48", oil on canvas

New Work

"Launch from Blue Fields", 30" x 40", oil on canvas

New Work

Red Horse For Now, 30" x 40", oil on canvas

Berry Farm, pastel on paper, 2010

Berry Farm, 2010, pastel on paper, Andrew Portwood copyright

New Works at The Nicholson Gallery, Buckhead

Red Bricks(Townhouse), 8" x 10", pastel on paper, SOLD.

Hey, I am excited to report that I have an assortment of new artworks at The Nicholson Gallery in Miami Circle in Buckhead. This is a beautiful gallery that caters mostly to the design trade, yet the atmosphere is friendly, laidback and inviting in a huge open-airy space. You should check them out , they are on the very end of Miami Circle, right next to The Eclipse de Luna.

"The Merry Chase"

"The Merry Chase", 48" x 36", oil on canvas, Sold!

Bennett Gallery, Nashville.

Study in Blue, Pastel on Paper

Banbury Cross, 18" x 24", Pastel on paper

Arctic Draft, 20" x 16", Pastel on paper

Valencia, pastel on paper 20" x 16"

Valencia, 20" x 16", framed, pastel on paper, SOLD

Love of Horses

I have always loved horses and drawing horses. When I was a young budding artist of eleven or twelve years of age, I won a neighborhood art contest with a charcoal drawing of a lively, trotting colt. I was awarded a twenty-five dollar savings bond, ...after that, in my mind, I was hooked and certified. I graduated from college with a degree in art and became a professional illustrator. I have always enjoyed basic drawing and trying to capture that power and bravado and grace of movement with line stroke. The horse as subject is a wonderful, romantic metaphor and symbol of strength for me as a contemporary artist. It has been used by other artist's as well throughout art history and I continue to connect with that universal love of horses. Presently, I am no longer doing illustration work, but instead trying to build a following as a gallery artist and independent, showing and selling art and prints in the best venue possible. If your interested in my work, please subscribe in the column to the right to receive email blog posts with news and upcoming events of interest.

Thanks for looking.

Andrew Portwood horses & figures prevalent subjects in paintings and drawings

"Dignity", 20" x 16", framed, pastel on paper, SOLD

The Mercantile Atlanta

Andrew Portwood Artworks on exhibit at Bennett Gallery Nashville

Overjoyed! Have a few new paintings (large paintings) and pastel drawings on exhibit at Bennett Gallery in Nashville, they are one of the galleries highlighted for this year's annual "Artrageous" 22 benefit for Nashville CARES event...This Saturday Nov 14th, 2009 - 6:00 to 10:00 pm. Say hello to Bill, Emily and Hayley...they are wonderful people at Bennett Gallery and represent an outstanding collection of artists and their works.

Another drawing

Here is another small pastel sketch like the last but a bit more organic and classical in line quality. I'm calling this one "Terracotta" because of the color and because it's kind of Italian/baroque and reminds me of one of those cavalry horses in those old paintings. Contact and email here for purchase information.

"Terracotta", 20" x 16" framed pastel on paper,

SOLD

The first day of the rest of my life.

Hello. This is my first post, I'm still trying to figure out the controls on the dashboard of this thing. I can feel the power already and it's potential. This entire endeavor is about potential.

I am an independent studio artist adding to his potential by utilizing the "new" tools at our disposal, and this is one of them. With the internet, an artist can show his work to a multitude of people worldwide, so this is the first step to connect to that.



Working with galleries the past few years has been a joy, but it feels good to be more pro-active and independently "set up shop" online with my own gallery, connecting with customers and collectors directly. We are living in unconventional times, maybe it is the best time for artists to take a chance and try some new avenues at our disposal.



Nevertheless, I am planning to add links to these blog pages, cyber-gallery links, in order to sell my original artworks online. So, I'll be posting artwork to these pages with descriptions or stories relating to my own creative processes. I think I've said enough for now and look foward to our next post.