"Metro-meter", 48" x 60",acrylic and mixed media on canvas, Andrew Portwood Artist

"Metro Meter",48" x 60", acrylic and mixed media on canvas, Andrew Portwood copyright 2012
Available at : https://andrewportwoodstudio.com/home.html

"Lemon zest", 36" x 48", acrylic and mixed media on canvas, Andrew Portwood

Lemon Zest, 36" x 48", mixed media on canvas, Andrew Portwood copyright 2012
SOLD

"Summer Fire", 36" x 60", acrylic, graphite on canvas, Andrew Portwood

Summer Fire, 36" x 60", acrylic & grphite on canvas, Andrew Portwood copyright 2012

"Garden Nocturne", 18" x 24", Oil monotype on Arches paper.

Garden Nocturne, 2012, detail, 18" x 24", monotype on Arches Paper, Andrew Portwood copyright 2015

"Red Rover", 36" x 48", acrylic and mixed media on canvas, Sold

Red Rover, 36" x 48", acrylic and mixed media on canvas, Andrew Portwood copyright 2011, Sold

"Morning Light", 2012, mixed media on canvas, 48" x 60", Andrew Portwood

Available at : https://andrewportwoodstudio.com/home.html

Here is a new painting...working at a much larger size ( Feels Good! ) and about to start another. You know , when I first decided a few years ago that I wanted to "paint", one of the things that got me so excited was the idea of  working LARGE...after working so long at sketch size, 5" x 7".  Anything small can be blown up to a larger proportion of course, but it's not the same as attacking a huge, blank, gesso'ed white plane of stretched canvas. It Feel Good! 

Click on the image for a better view.

Music & Tea, detail, Pastel on paper, Andrew Portwood

Just a little detail from a larger pastel drawing. I really like the color in this one, and more abstract elements with a broader and open pastel stroke. Today that rule applies "Less is More", I am going to be consciously aware of this when I paint on larger canvas sizes. After working at such a smaller scale with the monotypes, one has to "proportion up" with a larger brush, more paint and "use those Arms" as opposed to the wrist!

"The Ironyard", 9" x 16", monotype on Rives, Andrew Portwood

The Ironyard, 9" x 16", monotype on Rives paper, Andrew Portwood copyright 2011

Available at  http://www.bennettgalleriesnashville.com/AndrewPortwood.htm

Ah, today, I'm going back to painting on canvas for a while...I'm feeling the need to work larger! I'll get back to the monotypes later. I'm still feeling the effects of surgery, and have to take it easy, but I have to work...And,....  I'm spending too much time on the Internet and marketing. I need to concentrate on a whole new body of work to put on the gallery walls..that is my focus now.

'Patio Pony", 8" x 8", monotype on Canson Edition 280, Andrew Portwood 2012

Patio Pony, 2012, 8" x 8", monotype on Canson Edition 280, Andrew Portwood copyright 2012

sold

"Pilgrimage Light", Detail, 9" x 24". monotype on arches paper, Andrew Portwood, 2012

Here is another monotype that I wanted to post, it's a detail shot of a larger painting on paper, "Pilgrimage Light" which measures 9" x 24"..a really horizontal format, which works for landscapes. The thing about these monotypes is all of the subtle detail that is missed unless you see the real thing...and up close. Anyway, this is an attempt to show some of the detail..click on the image.

More Monotypes & the power of descriptive linework. These images are copyrighted, please do not reproduce without permission from me the artist.

Garden Nocturne, Detail 1, 2011, monotype on paper, Andrew Portwood copyright 2014

Garden Nocturne, Detail 2, 2011, monotype on paper, Andrew Portwood copyright 2014

I want to say first that I am "influenced" by great work...past and present. I admire the great works that have survived the test of time. While researching the monotype process in order to learn the process for my own work...I came across examples of monotypes authored by other artists throughout art history...I did not know Degas made so many monotypes! I have researched and looked for good examples to learn from...monotypes from the great artist master's of the past, like Degas, Goya, Rembrandt etchings, etc. And I have to say that I have been Directly influenced; The line quality and draughtsmanship of these artists is at the core of their work. One can speak volumes with a descriptive and bravado line. 

I admire linework because I have spent years (thousands of hours) drawing. I was an advertising story artist for ten plus years. This job involved drawing with pencil daily...creating detailed, narrative illustrations of  proposed television and film story and idea. Everything that I drew came out of my head and my experience. I visualized everything...and most of that story involved figures and movement in different settings and from different and sometimes unusual angles. I found a loose and descriptive line style on my own from putting in thousands of hours of drawing practice. I do occasionally use photo reference for proportions sake...for instance the horses, in some of my work, need to be more accurate for my own preference. I have "the license" to change it up. 

This latest and largest monotype attempt: "Garden Nocturne", 2011, Andrew Portwood

(measures 18" x 24"), came out with a kind of "Baroque" feel to it, sub-consciously and by accident.

When I loaded my brush, I did not use large globs of paint, but more thinned out swaths of paint trying to cover a 18" x 24" plate, and as it turned out that the thin paint really amped up the line quality ( I am always learning by doing). I like it!

Detail, Harlequin Horse 12" x 16", monotype, Andrew Portwood

"Harlequin Horse", detail, 12" x 16", monotype, Andrew Portwood copyright 2012

"Angel", detail, 2011, 12" x 16", monotype, Andrew Portwood

 OK, here are three more monotypes I'm pretty pleased with...working with the same three or four colors in a series. They will look nice matted and framed, maybe in a simple, un-adorned pewter or silver. This goes out to all of the angel's, Muse's, and other holiday spirits out there...you know who you are! I guess that I am destined to paint angel's and fairies and banshees the rest of my life... the real one's and the one's in my own head, ha ha. But that's the way it is when you are creating, you have to dig into your own psyche. sold

"Angel", 2011, image area: 12" x 16", monotype, Andrew Portwood

"Sisters", 2011, 12" x 16", monotype, Andrew Portwood

"Harlequin Horse", Detail, 2011, 12" x 16", monotype, Andrew Portwood

"Harlequin Horse", 2011, 12" x 16",monotype, Andrew Portwood Artist

"Sunshine", 2011, 8" x 8", monotype, Andrew Portwood

Sunshine, 2011, 8" x 8", monotype, Andrew Portwood copyright 2011, Sold

This is another little 8" x 8" square monotype in oil, very loose, quick painting. I have just pulled 4 new 12" x 16" monotype's in oil that I will post...I have been trying out different paper types for these: Arches hotpress, and Rives etching paper, as well as Strathmore drawing paper. I really like the Arches 90 lb. paper. Have not gotten around to the larger 18"x 24"...working my way up to that

"Red Spanish Horse", 8" x 8", monotype, Andrew Portwood 2011

Red Spanish Horse, 2011, 8" x 8", monotype, Andrew Portwood copyright 2011, Sold

This one is my favorite so far. I think I am ready to start working at a larger size..maybe try 18" x 24" format...stay tuned for the results, I'll post when I pull a larger print. Remember, I'm experimenting with this process, so I'm learning as I go along(which IS exhilarating) and, part of the challenge I think, with a larger format, will be the transfer of paint onto the paper ( I have no press, only a hand burnishing process). So...I found this really sturdy mailing tube in my studio that I was saving...for mailing, but I think I will employ it as a large "roller" and attempt to transfer the paint(image) like a giant rolling pin with the right amount of careful pressure, like a real press. We'll see...

"Mr. Green", 8" x 8", monotype, Andrew Portwood 2011

Mr. Green, 2011, 8" x 8", monotype, Andrew Portwood copyright 2011, Sold

"Red horse Blue horse, 12" x 16", monotype embellished with pastel, Andrew Portwood 2011

"Rose", 10" x 13", monotype, Andrew Portwood 2011

Rose, 10" x 13", monotype on paper, copyright Andrew Portwood 2011

Black Horse, ghost impression 1, 11" x 14", monotype, Sold

Black Horse, ghost impression 1, 2011, 11" x 14", monotype , Sold

Here is another monotype, this one measures 11" x 14", and it is the second impression (called " the ghost" impression) pulled from the plate. I'm doing all of these with oil paint and using a piece of glass as the"plate". And, I don't have a press, so I am hand burnishing the paper onto the inked glass plate. I'm doing about one or two a day and pleased so far, I'm still experimenting with this process, which is challenging and fun. They have a simple, clean graphic quality and you can see the character of brushstroke in the impression, which is interesting..and there is always that element of surprise when you finally lift the print off of the plate. The next step is to embellish with a little pastel. One of my favorite artists and influences is the master Edgar Degas. His monotypes are amazing and inspiring! I'm going to check into accessing an etching press for a day, that way, the ink (or in this case oil paint) will ideally saturate into the recesses of the paper.

"Amber waves", 8" x 8", Monotype print on paper

Amber Waves, 2011, 8" x 8", monotype, Andrew Portwood copyright 2011

This is one of a new series of artworks. It's a monotype print, which is an original one (sometimes2) impression print. It's a print, yet, unlike multiple print impressions, there is only one-of-a-kind, then the inked plate is wiped clean. This one is titled "Amber waves" and image area measures 8" x 8", unframed. I titled this piece based on its color. The black, blue , and burnt sienna make a copper, amber color against the cream white paper.This piece is still available and for sale.

"Nottington Fair", Detail, mixed media on canvas, 36" x 36"