These are near life size portraits. Each painting shown here is painted from life.
These are head portraits, smaller than the bigger portraits above. these portraits are 12 x 9 inches.
It has been several months since I have been painting 6 days a week. Before this new schedule, I had been painting 5 days a week. All the days have one thing in common—Painting from life.
After so many years of painting and painting, I am not tired of it.
On this post, I present to you 3 of my recent portraits. Two of these were completed from the same spot, and the head portrait was painted from a different location but from the same pose.
It has been a turbulent weeks of strange news. And, the price of eggs has gone up outrageously. Nevertheless, my days continue without missing a beat—Painting every day…
12 x 9 inches
Painting a small color study is so essential to starting a bigger painting. I really have embraced this process. The only times that I would skip painting a color study or a composition study when I am so sure of what needs to be done and because I need all the days that I have with the model.
Another good reason for small study is that it gives me time to plan for an appropriate painting surface. I usually have a few different canvases or panels ready to go, but sometimes I may need a few days to prepare one.
Sharon Sprung 2025 Student
Salon opens on Tuesday, January 21st!
It’s that time of the year where all the students of Sharon Sprung get to showcase a few of their paintings from this school year.
Gallery Hours
Monday – Friday: 10 am – 9 pm
Saturday: 10 am – 3 pm
Sunday: Closed
PHYLLIS HARRIMAN MASON GALLERY
215 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019
Sharon Sprung, artist who painted Michelle Obama, working on Yellen’s portrait – Reuters – January 12, 2025
Besides painting each day, I read about artists from the past. There are many ways to improve one’s painting; one way is to study how artists lived and read what they wrote.
John left us a few hundred oil paintings for the living. He also wrote extensively and much of his writing is now accessible freely thanks to the internet.
For those of you that are interested in learning more about John Singer Sargent, I am listing a number of references that I have found on this post and update it as needed.
December 5 – December 22, 2024
The Art Students League of New York
Phyllis Harriman Mason Gallery
215 W 57th Street, New York, NY
Congratulations and thank you for purchasing The Hampshire House. Although there are now taller skyscrapers in and around the Billionaires’ Row NYC, the Hampshire House is one of the best looking one. May this painting bring you much love and happiness. Thank you.
My next painting, Paul’s Daughter, is now on view and available for sale — Paul’s Daughter is a classic Coney Island boardwalk restaurant, serving clams on the half shell, corndogs, hot dogs, Italian ices, funnel cakes, beers and things for over six decades. This painting was executed this summer while waiting for those enjoying the Coney Island amusement park.
Holiday show update – My first painting, Composition Two, found a new home. Congratulations to the collector and Thank you for supporting my work and The Art Students League of New York. May the painting bring you much joy and happiness.
My next painting, The Hampshire House, is now on view and available for sale. This painting was completed on a sunny day in September of this year, standing from a baseball field located inside Central Park.
It’s that time of the year once again! This painting is ‘on Sale’ at the Art Students League of New York. Come and see—and for a chance to collect—works by many talented artists.
For the past several years, I have participated in showing my paintings at the Art Students League’s Holiday Show. Throughout the year, I dedicate my best waking hours painting portraits, but I get out of my way to paint at least one specific painting for the League’s Holiday show. This year, I painted this one after getting inspired after canoeing across a lake full of water lilies.
After years of painting, I am happy, grateful, and excited to paint every day. There are many ways to measure success—for me is to paint as much as I can.
My yardstick for measuring success is the square footage of painting surface that I covered with oil paint.
Life can be perceived simple when looking at a simple painting like this one, but surrounding this is a ‘complex’ election year. There are many important topics that are being weighed: the border control, guns, wars, the legality of abortion, truth and lies.
I am excited to inform you that one of my paintings will be included in this exhibition.
NoMAA Gallery – 4140 Broadway & 176th St
June 11, 2024 – September 5, 2024 (Extended to October 15, 2024)
Gallery hours: Tuesdays and Saturdays 1-5pm (excluding holidays)
For more information, visit:
OPENING – Uptown Treasures: Past and Present
