Russell #1

Russell - oil on canvas - 40cm x 30cm

Russell has kindly consented to lend his very picturesque features as the model for the current portrait class at Port Adelaide. This quick study illustrates some of the generally accepted principles of portraiture. The principle of light against dark and dark against light throughout the work - the lit side of the face against the dark side of the background and vice versa for instance. The body is turned slightly away from the viewer and the head faces us over the sitter's left shoulder which is raised ever so slightly higher than the trailing shoulder. The pose is relaxed, semi serious and the sitter engages with the viewer.

Here too are opportunities to produce lost and found edges, flat shadows and thick highlights and also
changes in texture of the clothing, the skin and the beard and many other opportunities for painterly brushwork.