RHA

Model as Artist

2012-01-27T15:01:00.000-08:00

Model as Artist - by Richard Hearns
oil/panel, Studio 7 at the Art Students League of New York.

Above is a figure study in oil. Created over four mornings. I spent about six hours in total orchestrating this painting.
Positioning the figure within the composition was interesting. I began by working with the larger negative shapes around the figure as I felt this the best way suited for me to begin the piece and get started. Gregg Kreutz, my mentor, came over to see my work and suggested that I might start by building the form of the figure - the volume, and he began to mass in the shape of the model in the canvas center. It was interesting to watch Gregg and see how he used the paint (eg what kind of consistancy etc) but after some careful consideration I decided that my way would serve this piece better in its over all orchestration and wiped off Gregg's demo to begin myself again.
On Gregg's return to me I believe he was very proud of my decision to begin myself again and continue on my own line of thought.

My feeling is paramount to my paintings. It is the initial idea or inspiration and concept that I hold onto and which drives my pieces. This is what makes me grow.
Painting at the Arts League of New York these past two weeks has reinforced that thought.
Many times during a painting session here I realize that it is as much about what not to do as what to do. I can witness all the pit falls of dabbing, copying, overworking etc as well as pick up some great ideas that will aid my creative development and process.

New York is the most wonderful place. Its just buzzing with energy and I am just getting started!

- Richard

Cathy

2012-01-27T14:14:00.000-08:00

This sketch in oil on panel was completed in 40 mins at the end of a session of still life painting during my first week at the Artist League of New York. I have made several figure studies since my arrival and will continue to jump between still life and figure painting while under the studio guidance of Gregg Krutez.
The model portrayed in this sketch is Cathy, she has featured in many famous artists works including Nelson Shanks and she has been working at the League for many year now.

My concept for this sketch was to work with strong shapes and complementary colours .

Seated Pose

2011-12-22T01:35:00.000-08:00

Seated Pose - oil/panel - 12"x9"

The last pose and sketch of 2011 made in the RHA life drawing room.
Am very proud of this expressive 2 hour study in oils - my last of 2011.

I won't be back at the academy painting from life until April 2012 but I will be posting images here from another academy! Look forward to filling you in on this venture in the near future.

Wishing you all a very peaceful, happy and joy filled Christmas and New year 2012!

- Richard

Mick reading his Book

2011-12-14T10:51:00.001-08:00

Mick reading his Book - oil on panel - 12"x9"

It is and has been my observation that there are So many people are caught up in academia and and academic rendering of things. A brief chat with a very seasoned gallery owner this morning proved and reinforced that idea I have. The curator said that he sees over and over this kind of European style of academic schooling and art production. All focused on technique - the same techniques. I want and will my work to come from the inside out. When I painted Mick here I painted with gusto - in the moment, full of excitement energy and emotion. Rather then an academic rendering of the figure before me I want to assert my own interpretation of the event and have some Fun.

Ok, there are many things to learn about proportion, values, subtle tonal changes etc that working from a model enables and allows but I feel that will all come in its own good time and to some extent is already evident in my progression. I See more and the more I See the more I have to edit in my rendering.

All these poses you see here on this blog are made directly wet in to wet in oil and take no longer then two to three hours to compose. Working this way and on this rather small scale enables me to complete the sketch/study in the one sitting and is always a great surprise the following week when I return to collect the dry painting and start a new one.

Its all about expression! I've been attending these painting sessions at the RHA for some time now. I feel so privileged to be allowed to participate and work here with live models.This pose was set by me. I knew Mick, our model last week, enjoys reading his book. He is in fact a poet! So I suggested that a pose with his book might be nice.

Hope you like it. - Richard

Meditative Nude

2011-12-08T03:25:00.000-08:00

Meditative Nude - oil on canvas wrapped board - 12"x9"

Lounging

2011-11-23T14:04:00.000-08:00

Lounging - oil on canvas wrapped panel - 12"x9"

Female Nude XVIII

2011-11-16T14:19:00.001-08:00

Female Nude XVIII - oil/panel - 12"x9"

Female Nude XVII

2011-11-09T12:31:00.000-08:00

Female Nude XVII - oil/panel - 12"x9"

Nude by Richard Hearns

2011-11-03T03:05:00.000-07:00

Something a little extra special for you today!

This piece which features in the video above is entitled 'Nude' and is a tribute after the American born artist Richard Schmid the music that accompanies is by the wonderful Irish group 'Kila'. I completed the painting a few days ago and just finished up editing this short video of its creation the day before yesterday.

It is always an enjoyable surprise and experience for me to see how I bring a painting together as during its creation I am hardly conscious of the processes I take but rather enveloped and immersed in solving problems of tone form and line etc one after another to unify the piece and express how I interpret the scene.

To see the finished piece and more of my figure painting please visit my RHA blog which features an ongoing diary of painting created from life at the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin.

Be sure to pop your email address in the subscribe feature on this blog to recieve near weekly updates.

For Purchasing information please contact, info@richardhearns.com

An oil painting demonstration by Irish Artist Richard Hearns.
This painting is a tribute to a painting by Richard Schmid.
Music by Kila.

See Finished piece below. - Richard

'Nude'

2011-11-02T14:32:00.000-07:00

'Nude', (tribute to Richard Schmid) - oil on linen wrapped panel - 12x9"

Seated Female Nude

2011-11-02T14:17:00.000-07:00

Seated Female Nude - oil/panel - 12"x9"

Female Nude XVI

2011-10-27T14:17:00.000-07:00

Female Nude XVI - oil/panel - 12"x9"

Female Nude XV

2011-10-22T04:44:00.000-07:00

Female Nude XV - oil/panel - 12"x9"

Female Nude XIV

2011-10-22T04:43:00.001-07:00

Female Nude XIV - oil/panel -12"x9"

Female Nude XIII

2011-10-13T09:10:00.000-07:00

Female Nude XIII (tribute to Richard Schmid) - oil/linen panel - 12"x9"

Female Nude XII

2011-10-13T09:06:00.000-07:00

Female Nude XII - oil/panel - 12"x9"

Female Nude XI

2010-05-25T02:45:00.001-07:00

Female Nude XI - oil/panel - 12"x9"

Female Nude X Profile

2010-05-13T08:33:00.000-07:00

Female Nude X Profile -oil/panel - 5"x5"

Female Nude IX

2010-05-06T07:35:00.000-07:00

Female Nude IX - oil/panel - 12"x9"

Female Nude VIII

2010-04-15T09:58:00.001-07:00

Female Nude VIII - oil/panel - 12"x9"

Female Nude VII

2010-04-09T00:47:00.000-07:00

Female Nude VII - oil/panel - 12"x9"

Female Nude VI

2010-03-18T12:00:00.001-07:00

Female Nude VI - oil/panel - 12"x9"

Female Nude V

2010-03-18T11:58:00.000-07:00

Female Nude - oil on canvas - 12"x10"

Female Nude VI

2010-03-05T01:40:00.000-08:00

Female Nude VI - oil/panel - 12"x9"

Female Nude III

2010-03-02T12:25:00.001-08:00

Female Nude III - oil/panel - 12"x9"

Female Nude II

2010-02-25T00:04:00.001-08:00

Female Nude -oil/panel - 12"x9"

Female Nude

2010-02-18T12:02:00.000-08:00

Female Nude - oil/panel - 12"x9"

Male Torso VI with Landscape

2010-02-11T12:21:00.000-08:00

Male Torso VI with Landscape - oil/panel -12"x9"

Male Torso V

2010-02-11T09:57:00.001-08:00

Male Torso V - oil/panel - 12"x5"

Male Torso III

2010-02-03T09:39:00.001-08:00

Male Torso III - oil/panel - 12"x9"

Male Torso II

2010-02-03T09:37:00.000-08:00

Male Torso II - oil/panel - 12"x9"

Male Torso

2009-11-27T07:55:00.000-08:00

Male Torso - oil/panel -12"x9"

Yesterday marked my first day painting in the RHA Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts in Dublin.

Working with a live model is an energizing and educational lesson.

The human figure is such a complicated form and has in it all the qualities to teach and challenge you as an artist.

With the quite proud Romanesque seated pose that the model assumed, I decided to concentrate and hone my efforts directly on the torso of the models body.

Des was a great model - holding the pose for several 25 minute sessions.

On arriving home after the days painting I was so energized and excited that I continued to paint into the night.

Looking forward to see how these RHA painting sessions feed into my work and help me to further develop as an Artist.

Hope you enjoy the Work and seeing this new blog develop.

-Richard