About
Producing art has allowed me to process my life. Drawing pads filled with cartoons littered my childhood. Redundant school lessons became caricature opportunities. Never considering my doodles to have artistic value, I ceased to dabble. Many dark years later, I found a winterscape at a local thrift store and thought it needed fixing. With my addition of a Yeti and a jackalope, the stranger’s piece was finally complete. That was the beginning of my romance with oil painting. Everything enjoyable I had found in pencil cartoon drawings was about to be eclipsed with oils. I learned to balance the frustration with intrigue. A few commissions later, and much cajoling from loved ones, Blank Canvas Portraits was born.
First Portraits
Self-Portrait
This self-portrait was my first fully original oil painting. I spent at least twelve hours, encompassing an all-night session, completing this rather grotesque, alla prima representation.
The Spurgy
This was my first commissioned portrait. Spurgeon, named after the famous 19th-century preacher Charles H. Spurgeon, is an Anatolian Shepherd mix. His white fur was robust, fluffy, and a challenge to capture.
The Fisherman
This quick study of Bob was done to explore the painting and find difficulties I may encounter in the commission. Energetic brush strokes and amplified colors display the joy and gratitude I experienced in this project.
Commission a Portrait
Pricing based on canvas size and number of subjects. Contact Mark for details or order your custom portrait from Blank Canvas Portraits.