Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all!

"Holiday Star" • Oil on Linen • 9"x12"

  

Reference and painting photos by Saunders Fine Arts

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Plein Air Streaming, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Saunders Fine Arts POTD - Mission Concepcion

© Patrick & Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, and/or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or video, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Saunders Fine Arts POTD - Guanyin Bodhisattva

Guanyin Bodhisattva (Avalokiteshvara)

Wooden sculpture at the San Antonio Museum of Art

A Buddhist deity of compassion and mercy, and the only one to be represented as both male and female.

© Patrick & Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, and/or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or video, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Patrick Saunders December 2021 Art Newsletter - The Ever Evolving Process

It may look effortless, but science has proven that even master artists make changes throughout their process.

Sign up for my latest art newsletter on the importance of keeping an open mind. - Patrick Saunders

 

http://bit.ly/PSFA-Newsletter-Sign-up

 

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Patrick Saunders Art Review - "The Horse Wrangler" by W. Herbert Dunton

Kimberly and I were finally able to visit the San Antonio Art League & Museum this past week. While only a portion of the collection is on view at any given time, the work displayed does not disappoint. This painting by Herb Dunton, now considered one of the jewels of the league's collection, was submitted to the 1928 San Antonio Competitive Exhibition, and surprisingly won only an honorable mention.

The stylized flowing shapes of Dunton's work have influenced a number of contemporary western painters. In this particular piece, the rider is the focal point, but for me it's the horse and foreground shrubs that stand out as masterful. The warm, lit edges of the forms portray an incredible sense of depth despite the overall simplicity of the shapes. - Patrick Saunders

 

"The Horse Wrangler" • W. Herbert Dunton • Oil on Canvas • 25" x 20" • 1928

 

Painting photo by Saunders Fine Arts

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Kathy Sosa - San Antonio Art League & Museum

The work of artist Kathy Sosa, currently at the San Antonio Art League & Museum as part of their 2021 Invitational show.

© Patrick & Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, and/or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or video, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Patrick Saunders Spring 2022 Booth Art Academy Painting Workshops - Filling Fast

Georgia artist friends, my painting workshops at the Booth Western Art Museum’s Booth Art Academy next spring are filling fast, so sign up now to secure your spot.

My Painting Without Borders class is on May 1st - 3rd, 2022, and my Dynamic Floral in Oils workshop is on May 4th - 6th.

Click on either link below for more information, and to register:

https://bit.ly/Patrick-Saunders-Booth-Museum-Workshop-2022

https://bit.ly/Patrick-Saunders-Booth-Museum-Floral-Workshop-2022

I’m really looking forward to returning to the Booth. It’s a premier teaching facility, and I want to thank Kent Mullinax and the entire staff in advance for all of their hard work in making the academy such a first-class art education destination. - Patrick Saunders

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Patrick Saunders Fine Arts - Art Review - "Portrait of Alice Dieudonnée Chase" by William Merritt Chase

For this week's #MuseumTourTuesday, here is another great piece from the McNay Art Museum's collection. 

William Merritt Chase created a number of portraits of his eldest daughter Alice. This one clearly demonstrates the artist's skill in simplification. This is especially noticeable in the eyes. There's almost nothing to them. Notice how the dark pupil of the eye and the line of the eyelid are one shape.

I also have to point out the simplicity of the flowers. They are made up of only a few values with a slight color temperature variation, yet they read as very complex in the context of the broader brushstrokes throughout the portrait. - Patrick Saunders

 

"Portrait of Alice Dieudonnée Chase" • William Merritt Chase • Oil on Panel • 1899

Painting photo by Saunders Fine Arts.

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Patrick Saunders - November 2021 Art Newsletter - Go With The Flow

Your choice of paint is the most important decision regarding art materials, and all brands are definitely not equal. 

Sign up for my latest newsletter on how the right paint can not only enhance the color in your paintings, but give you more control during the entire process. - Patrick Saunders

http://bit.ly/PSFA-Newsletter-Sign-up

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Patrick Saunders Fine Arts Portrait Studies - Coppini Academy

It was a pleasure to be able to paint a couple of quick studies at the Coppini Fine Arts Academy's open model sessions this week.

Due to the pandemic, I haven't been able to paint from the live model in almost two years, and I'm feeling a bit rusty. Time to get back into practice! - Patrick Saunders

 

"Dana" • 12" x 16" • Oil on Linen • 2 Hours

 

"Travis" • 12" x 16" • Oil on Linen • 1 Hour

Painting photos by Kimberly at Saunders Fine Arts.

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Throwback Thursday - "The Pink Rose" Floral Painting - Patrick Saunders Fine Arts

I'm working on a new series of florals for an upcoming show in the spring of 2022. In the meantime, here's one of my favorite roses for #ThrowbackThursday.

This flower jumped out it me like a star, and I mean that literally. I rarely see all of those sharp points in a rose. This was painted four years ago for a previous floral show. - Patrick Saunders

 

"The Pink Rose" • 8" x 8" • Oil on Linen • Private Collection

Painting photo by Saunders Fine Arts.

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Artrs, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Patrick Saunders Art Review - "Voices in the Night" by John Moyers

It was great to be back at the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas this past weekend. One of the pieces that struck me most on this visit was this excellent painting by American artist John Moyers.

The horse and rider emerge from the darkness of the trees through an expert handling of color saturation. One gets the sense of a dramatic story as the figure peers back into the darkness looking for someone. It's a great example of how a painting can tell a deeper story about what's not depicted within the confines of the frame through suggestion alone. - Patrick Saunders

 

"Voices in the Night" • John Moyers • Oil on Canvas • 1997

Painting photo by Saunders Fine Arts

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Briscoe Western Art Museum Photography Exhibition - Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo

We were lucky enough to catch this powerful photography exhibition this weekend at the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio.

It is both majestic and intimate at the same time. Werner Segarra's images and video really connect you to the lives of the cowboys and families depicted, and to the grandeur of the landscape.

 

Go see it if you can.

 

Werner Segarra, El Gotiadero, Huásabas, 2011, Digital photography

Veteran's Day

In honor of all who've served, wishing you a Happy Veteran's Day. Thank you for your service.

 

"Poppies" • 12" x 16" • Oil on Linen • Private Collection

 

Painting photo by Saunders Fine Arts.

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Patrick Saunders Fine Arts Art Review - "Iris At Dawn" by Maria Oakey Dewing

This past weekend, during one of my workshops, I was asked who I considered to be my favorite floral painters. While there are many, one of my top choices is definitely Maria Oakey Dewing. I've featured her work in a previous #MuseumTourTuesday post, but not this specific painting. This piece is part of the collection of the Hood Museum of Art in Hanover, New Hampshire.

Irises are beautiful flowers, but Dewing goes beyond the blooms and creates a lush tapestry of foliage. That's what I admire most about her work. There's no vase or carefully cropped bouquet. Her florals can't be contained, and burst through the confines of the canvas. One gets the sense that turning in any direction will reveal more. We're not just admiring the flowers in her painting, we are surrounded by them.

Maria collaborated on a number of paintings with her husband, Thomas Wilmer Dewing, who went on to overshadow her own career. She often painted the floral portions of his compositions, and rarely signed her name.

 

Sadly, she regretted her own career later in life, believing that she had not realized her full potential, and feeling unable to compete with her husband. I for one think that she deserves a much more elevated stature among the most well known American artists. - Patrick Saunders

 

"Iris At Dawn" • Maria Oakey Dewing • Oil on Canvas • 64 x 79.5 cm • 1899

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Patrick Saunders Fine Arts Painting Workshop - Day Three - Pet Portrait Demonstration

My pet portrait demonstration painting this morning on day three of my latest painting workshop at the Coppini Academy. - Patrick Saunders

“Orange Tabby Cat Study” • 12" x 16" • Oil on Linen • 1.5 Hours

• Available soon at www.PatrickSaunders.com

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Patrick Saunders Fine Arts Painting Workshop - Day Two - Floral Painting Demonstration

My floral demonstration painting from life this morning on day two of my latest painting workshop at the Coppini Academy. - Patrick Saunders

 

"Yellow Daisies Study" • 10" x 10" • Oil on Linen • 1.5 Hours • SOLD

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Patrick Saunders Fine Arts Painting Workshop - Day One - Landscape Demonstration Painting

My demonstration painting of Mission San Jose this morning on day one of my workshop at the Coppini Academy of Fine Art.

It's such a pleasure to be back in beautiful San Antonio. - Patrick Saunders

 

"Mission San Jose Study" • 12" x 16" • Oil on Linen • 2 Hours • SOLD

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Patrick Saunders Fine Arts - Original Art & Fine Art Prints & Cards

The holidays are almost upon us, and if you have a gift list, consider giving the gift of art this year to family and friends.

Click here to browse my online gallery of available paintings, as well as fine art prints and cards of my sold work: http://bit.ly/Patrick-Saunders-Fine-Art-Prints-And-Cards

I know it’s still early, but let me be one of the first to wish you and yours a very merry holiday season! - Patrick Saunders

© Patrick & Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, and/or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or video, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Patrick Saunders Fine Arts - Art Review - "Pardon in Brittany" by Gaston La Touche

Today's #MuseumTourTuesday features a painting at The Art Institute of Chicago by French artist Gaston La Touche.

It's a dreamlike painting, depicting a penitential pilgrimage, where the light comes from both natural twilight and candlelight. What I especially love about the painting is the way in which the figures combine into one form, except of the woman on the horse. It almost appears as if she is riding through a field of flowers. - Patrick Saunders

"Pardon in Brittany" • Gaston La Touche • Oil on Canvas
• 100.5 x 110.5 cm • 1896

 

 

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Patrick Saunders October 2021 Art Newsletter - The Shape of Flowers

Some artists find floral painting intimidating because flowers are relatively complex subjects. You can easily get lost, and end up with something that, in the immortal words of one of my painting mentors, looks like "wadded up toilet paper."

Sign up for my latest art newsletter on how nailing the overall shape of a floral first can really help you find your way through a complicated subject. - Patrick Saunders

http://bit.ly/PSFA-Newsletter-Sign-up

 

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Patrick Saunders Painting Workshop - Ellis County Art Association

Texas artist friends, my January painting workshop at the Ellis County Art Association is filling fast, so sign up now to secure your spot.

Click here for more information, and to register:

https://bit.ly/Patrick-Saunders-Waxahachie-Workshop

 

Join me January 27th - 29th to explore the essential techniques for painting from direct observation and photography. Each day will begin with a short lecture and full painting demonstration, followed by one-on-one instruction. My class is highly tailored for each individual artist, so beginners as well as advanced painters are welcome. - Patrick Saunders

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Patrick Saunders Fine Arts - Art Review - "The Red Kimono" by George Hendrik Breitner

This piece from the Stedelijk Museum is one of a series of 14 works that Dutch artist George Hendrik Breitner painted for his "Girl In Kimono" series from 1893 to 1896. The model is sixteen-year-old Geesje Kwak, who posed for almost all of the compositions in either a red, white or gray kimono.

It's a beautiful painting, striking in its use of rich reds and luscious overlapping patterns. The graphic design of these Japanese fabrics clearly fascinated the artist.

Today the painting is considered an icon of "Japonisme," the influence of Japanese art on western art following the forced reopening of trade with Japan in 1858. In its day, the series was not as popular as the artist's landscape work, created both en plein air and through the use of reference photos, which Breitner was already known for. You can view some of these works, which I wrote about in a previous #MuseumTourTuesday post, here:
https://bit.ly/patrick-saunders-art-review-breitner

I find the change in the critical acceptance of these works interesting. While Breitner's landscapes document the contemporary conditions of the streets and harbors of Amsterdam through direct observation, the kimono series is far more trendy and staged. At the time, the paintings may have been seen as a sort of pop culture response, whereas today they are more of a historical record of the influence of Japanese culture on European painting. - Patrick Saunders

"The Red Kimono" • George Hendrik Breitner • Oil on Canvas
• 77 x 101.5cm  • 1894

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Patrick Saunders Fine Arts 2022 Painting Workshops - Booth Western Art Museum

Georgia artist friends, I will be returning to the Booth Western Art Museum’s Booth Art Academy next spring for two painting workshops.

On May 1st - 3rd, 2022, I will teach my Painting Without Borders class, and on May 4th - 6th, I will teach another Dynamic Floral In Oils workshop.

Registration is now open, so click on either link below for more information, or to sign up. - Patrick Saunders

 

https://bit.ly/Patrick-Saunders-Booth-Museum-Workshop-2022
https://bit.ly/Patrick-Saunders-Booth-Museum-Floral-Workshop-2022 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Patrick Saunders Fine Arts Painting Workshop - Sky Ranch Studio - Petaluma, California

West Coast artist friends, I’m pleased to announce that I will be teaching a painting workshop in Sonoma County next spring.

Class size is limited, so click here for more information, and to sign up: https://bit.ly/Patrick-Saunders-Petaluma-Workshop

Join me March 4th - 6th at the Sky Ranch Studio in Petaluma, California to explore the essential techniques for painting from direct observation. I can teach you to paint any subject, from the most simple to complex, with one approach. I will demonstrate the process of simplifying the subject and moving to finish as rapidly as possible in order to add more energy and excitement to your painting. Artists will learn about composition, value, texture, color temperature and accuracy in paint application.

Each day will begin with a short lecture and full demonstration, followed by one-on-one instruction. My class is highly tailored for each individual, so beginners as well as experienced painters are welcome. I will demonstrate in oil paint, but artists are welcome to use acrylic and pastels. - Patrick Saunders

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Patrick Saunders Fine Arts - Art Review - "The Artist's Studio" by Henrik Nordenberg

I have a beautifully rendered painting to share for #MuseumTourTuesday by Swedish artist Henrik Nordenberg. Much of the artist's work is in private collections, but numerous pieces can be viewed online.

Nordenberg is known for his interiors, but this one is by far my favorite. What intrigues me most are the overlapping patterns throughout the composition. All of the man-made patterns, such as the carpets, the umbrella and the lantern, move the viewer's focus around the brightest pattern of all - the window to the outdoors.

Knowing that this is the artist's studio, I have to wonder if it is an ode to his sources of inspiration, with the most important being the natural world featured at the center of the composition. - Patrick Saunders

 

"The Artist's Studio" • Henrik Nordenberg • Oil on Canvas 

• 22" x 15.6" • 1891 • Private Collection

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Art Supplies - Golden Artists Colors GAC 100 & Williamsburg Handmade Oils and Ground

I've got some new products to try out!

Thank you to Williamsburg Handmade Oil Colors and Golden Artist Colors for sponsoring my award win at the 30th Annual Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition.

I'm particularly excited about the Titanium Oil Ground, as I've heard great things. - Patrick Saunders

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Patrick Saunders Fine Arts Still Life Painting "Pumpkins & Pothos" - Olmsted Gallery

For #throwbackthursday, here's a painting that gets me into the spirit of fall.

This piece is now available at the Olmsted Gallery. My thanks to Lillian Kirbo Ansley and Mary Ferguson for inviting me to be in their new online gallery. - Patrick Saunders

"Pumpkins & Pothos" • Oil on Linen • 12" x 16"
• Available at https://www.olmstedgallery.com/paintings/patrick-saunders

Painting photo by Saunders Fine Arts.

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Patrick Saunders Fine Arts - Art Review - "Mrs. Fechin and Daughter" by Nicolai Fechin

Today's #MuseumTourTuesday features a painting in a private collection, and I consider it such an amazing piece that I feel the need to share my admiration. It's a painting by Nicolai Fechin. Yes, I know, I post a lot of Fechin's work, but it's always for good reason.

This piece is so intriguing to me, first and foremost for its cross-genre appeal. Is it a portrait, or a still life? By its title, it's a portrait, but nothing stands out more in this painting than the foreground still life. The figures are subdued in value contrast, and the child especially recedes into the background. The foreground still life is sharp and dominant in both value contrast and color saturation. 

 

My own take is that it is definitely a portrait. Despite the title, it is not simply a dual portrait of Fechin's wife and child, but a family portrait. The artist himself is included in the reflected metal of the tea urn, although abstracted to the point of illegibility. I see the still life as representative of Nicolai himself. A way to include himself in the family composition and still be the one capturing the scene. 

 

Regardless of my own read on the image, the painting is an undeniably bold composition. I love it when a painting transcends the categories we so often attempt to push art into. - Patrick Saunders

"Mrs. Fechin and Daughter" • Nicolai Fechin • Oil on Canvas • 1925 • 34 1/2" x 31 1/2"

 

 

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Patrick Saunders Fine Arts Floral Painting - In Progress

Here's a detail of a larger piece currently on the easel. I'm slowly finding my way through all of these shapes. - Patrick Saunders


In Progress • Oil on Linen • Crop of a 24"x30"

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Patrick Saunders Fine Arts Dog Portait Painting - "Jilly"

Jilly just couldn't wait to pose. Every time we turned around, she had positioned herself for a perfectly composed photo. What a smile she has. She's a natural model.

We particularly loved the way she lounged on the welcome mat of her home. Everything about Jilly conveys the warmth that we felt during this visit. She and her sister Leche, whose portrait I previously shared, were excited to meet us, and made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived.

Kimberly and I were actually only there to photograph Leche for a portrait commission, but Jilly was not about to let us leave without getting in on the action and attention. So, her humans decided they better get a portrait of Jilly too. - Patrick Saunders

"Jilly" • Oil on Linen • 9" x 12" • Private Collection

Reference and painting photos by Kimberly at Saunders Fine Arts.

© Patrick and Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or videos, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Saunders Fine Arts POTD - Laughing Gulls, Edisto Beach, South Carolina

Edisto Beach is so chill, even the laughing gulls are relaxed, gently hovering in the air from time to time, hoping you might share some food with them.

  

© Patrick & Kimberly Saunders, Saunders Fine Arts, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors/owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Patrick Saunders for painted works, and/or to Kimberly Saunders for photographs and/or video, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.