Painting with Laurie Johnson

"A Moment" (c) Mary Hubley

I recently had an amazing painting session with the amazing California artist Laurie Johnson Lepkowska, and I'm excited to tell you about it.

When I visited Monterey this summer, I took my painting gear with me, on a mission to get some happy work done on the West Coast. A few weeks before the trip, I found that Laurie, one of the artists that I admire on Daily Paintworks, was located close to where I would be. So, I contacted her to see if she would please, please like to paint with me for a few hours. I was thrilled to find out that she was thrilled to do it!

Laurie Johnson and Mary Hubley painting in Redwood City

So, early on Sunday morning, I arrived post-coffee at her studio, ready to go. Such a wonderful portrait artist! Laurie is the kind of expert artist who seeks out the sweet whimsy and spark in her subjects. Her walls were covered with luscious images she was working on. After a quick tour of the Redwood City Art Center, where her studio is located, we painted.

We used the same reference photo - a striking woman looking off into the distance, leaning forward on a purple surface. We discussed the usefulness of using a subtle purple in skin tone, the importance of noticing the planes of the face, and how our painting subject looked much like John Singer Sargent's Madame X. You can see the beginning stages of my painting sitting next to me in the photo just above, and the final creation at the top of this post.

I was sad to leave - I could have painted with Laurie all afternoon, but time was short. While I didn't have time to finish the painting there, I took it home and completed it later.

I had fun in the studio with Laurie Johnson. See Laurie's Daily Paintworks gallery here. I now have a new friend... Thanks, Laurie!

Genre: Portrait
Painting Name: A Moment
Size: 12" x 12"
Media: Acrylic on Canvas


-- Mary Hubley
 

Mermaid and the Blue Fish

"Mermaid and the Blue Fish" (c) Mary Hubley

"Mermaid and the Blue Fish" shows a mermaid floating in dark water, looking over her shoulder. She's relaxed. Her flame of red hair floats upward. In the background, a grouper-like fish pauses like a puppy.

Genre: Figure
Painting Name: Mermaid and the Blue Fish
Size: 12 x 12
Media: Acrylic on Canvas



-- Mary Hubley

Another Great Shell

Another Great Shell (c) Mary Hubley

I paint lots of children on the beach. I live at the beach. It's where children are left to their own creative play. They run, pick up seashells, build sandcastles, while parents watch from a short distance away.

Genre: Figure
Painting Name: Another Great Shell
Size: 16" x 20"
Media: Oil on Canvas


--Mary Hubley

Black Cats - Shadow and Magic

Shadow and Magic (c) Mary Hubley

This painting of two black cats is based on a photo by my brother, Robert. Here's what he says about them:

"Shadow is on the left. You can't see it in this, but he has a blue collar. He is my all-time favorite! He's about 10 years old . .  . Magic is on the right with the red collar and he is about 1 year old. He and Shadow are buddies, as you can see!"

They peer out the back windows, watching squirrels run about the garden.

Genre: Animals
Painting Name: Shadow and Magic
Size: 6" x 6"
Media: Oil on Canvas


-- Mary Hubley

Classic Sweetness

Portrait of a Child Dressed Up (c) Mary Hubley

This small portrait is of a child dressed up in a fancy hat and a feather boa. The painting is based on a photo my girlfriend Cassandra took of her granddaughter. It struck me how classic this baby looked in Edwardian-style dress and a black background. It explores a dark, rich John Singer Sargent-type pose.

Genre: Portrait
Painting Name: Laurel Evonrose
Size: 5" x 7"
Media: Oil on Canvas board


--Mary Hubley