Peter Dransfield Portrait Artist

Update

2010-04-12T11:21:00.000-07:00

Here is what is probably a nearly finished version. I say that knowing that things will pop out at me asking to be changed.

WIP of my son Gabriel

2010-04-07T03:43:00.000-07:00

This is currently on my easel.

Some other new work

2010-04-07T00:50:00.000-07:00

These two portraits are both oil on canvas and were commissions. The lady was from a tiny black and white photo around 60 years old and was rather a challenge.

Oil of cartoonist Peter Maddocks

2010-04-07T00:45:00.000-07:00

This is the second portrait I have done for and of Peter Maddocks. The first one can be seen on my facebook fan page and was in pastel - this is oil on canvas

New work

2010-04-07T00:38:00.000-07:00

Update

2009-12-09T03:28:00.001-08:00

I have started working with a palette knife on the background and I hope this will give the textural effect I am looking for - we will see.

Update

2009-12-07T12:15:00.000-08:00

I worked for a couple of hours on her head today. I am trying to think before making marks and save time on correcting ill- considered strokes with partial success.

Oil of Elanah

2009-12-06T23:40:00.000-08:00

Just started a reasonable size (36" x 29") oil of this young lady. I took the photo a few weeks ago in the beautiful town of Ronda here in Andalucia because I loved the wall behind her and knew it would make a an interesting portrait. This is about 4 hours into the work after things have been blocked in.

2009-12-01T03:05:00.000-08:00

I feel ashamed that I have neglected this blog but pressure of work etc. Here is some recent work.

Sunday market

2009-11-08T11:39:00.000-08:00

Every Sunday Marion and I exhibit at a local market, Marion with her lovely paper mosaics and my portraits. We started last December and it has provided a surprising number of commissions. Today I got three new commissions - the first is via the client of the Posthumous lady portrait posted here. He phoned during the week saying a friend of his wanted a double pastel portrait and he duly came this morning with his friend's photos. He is still very emotional about the portrait I did of his wife and he rather tearfully told me he was speaking about me to all his friends and would get more work for me. Sometimes this job gives you the best possible moments. The second commission is also a double pastel portrait and the third is of three dogs, also in pastel. So a dusty week ahead.

Wedding day finished version

2009-11-05T13:02:00.000-08:00

Well the client came to pick the painting and loved it so can't ask more than that. I felt rushed doing it but felt that given the time I had I did the best job I could.

Wedding day

2009-11-03T05:11:00.000-08:00

The drawing was delivered and the client seemed happy so back home and working on this large oil (39.5" x 32"). I only started painting on Sunday and it must be delivered on Thursday so rather a rush. Here it is in its present state with some refining still to be done.

Young Spanish woman

2009-11-02T07:23:00.000-08:00

Wow - busy few days. This is the first of the two commissions I got this week. It is of a young Spanish woman and is the combination of two photos we took during a shoot last Wednesday. This has to be handed over tomorrow morning and I am also working on a large oil which must be finished by Thursday. I'll get progress pics posted of that one tomorrow.

2009-10-28T08:13:00.001-07:00

Great day today - did the photoshoot for the next commission, a semi-nude pencil drawing of a very beautiful young Spanish lady and got a wonderful phonecall from the client who commissioned the posthumous oil of man with sunglasses. I had never spoken to her before as the commission was given to me via a previous client of mine (the power of word of mouth). She was quite literally over the moon after she seeing the painting for the first time this morning, saying she couldn't believe how much like him the portrait was. She said she has already shown it to Spanish friends who might commission me to paint their daughter.

Some recent work

2009-10-27T04:53:00.000-07:00

I have to do a photo shoot tomorrow for a new commission. At the moment it looks like a graphite drawing but obviously I will know better after I have discussed with the client - either way as long as the client has no objection you will be able to follow events here.

Meanwhile here are a few examples of recent work.

2009-10-27T04:21:00.000-07:00

Well, this is the first post in my new blog. I am a portrait artist working in Pastels, Oils and Graphite and although English I live in southern Spain near Malaga.

I have started this blog to help keep a record of my work but also how I work. People will be able to read my thoughts about both private work and commissions from the beginning of the process right the way through to the end and see these thoughts translated into painting so sharing all the highs and lows in creating a piece of art.

People can contact me via my email address to commission me or just to point out a glaring error of drawing or of whatever

As this is my first post my first image should be a self-portrait so here I am in Pastel.