During our Let’s Face It 2018 online class this year, we are learning about artists of the past, that made an impact on art history. Ferdinand Hodler was a Swiss artist, and I actually came across his work several years ago, and I loved his style. Lots of  patchwork colors in his portraits and landscapes…I find his work pretty fascinating. His contemporary, was artist Cuno Amiet, whose work I also love.

Portrait of Suzanne – 11 x 14 inch acrylic on stretched canvas (SOLD, thank you!)

As always, with these “study the masters” lessons, I do research on the artist ahead of time, look at their patterns and the way they lay down the paint, and try to incorporate something of their style, into my own. I found a reference photo of a woman (with long hair) with her hand on her shoulder, and I decided to use that pose, for this Hodler lesson. I added some of Hodler’s favorite colors, and a few of my own. Veering from the modern reference photo, I decided to paint her hair with a more vintage style.

I really love this finished portrait. I think her eyes, and her stance, speak volumes.