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It's slowly sinking in that my year-long project is over. You learn so much from a canvas this big, especially commitment & endurance. After a very gracious unveiling by the oceanographic museum in presence of Prince Albert II of Monaco, my painting spent a week in the very room that the scene portrays. Now it is hanging in the museum, next to the sculpture of Prince Albert I, founder of the museum and explorer in his own right. Varnishing it late 2019 before it heads to the Paris oceanographic institute, to join its sister painting from 1909. #art #oiloncanvas #oilpainting #commissionart #commissionportrait #portraitpainting #groupportrait #figurativeart #leportrait #peintre #peinturealhuile #instaartist #instaart #museeoceanographiquedemonaco #paris #monaco #princealbertdemonaco #oceanography #oceanconservation #oceanexploration #oceans #contemporaryartist #contemporaryrealism #classicrevival #paint #justpaint #maisondesoceans
When travelling even to the most exotic places (and when i'm not underwater drawing animals!), my sketchbook is always with me. Here at Balandra beach, considered by many as the most beautiful beach of mexico. Tidal currents create ondulating sand banks creating beautiful patterns across the shallow bay, which change everyday. You can pretty much walk from one side to the other. There's a famous mushroom shaped rock "El Hongo" which has become the symbol of La Paz (Baha California sur). #sketchbook #moleskine #draw #pencil #pencildrawing #sketch #traditionalart #travellingartist #fromlife #drawingfromlife #drawing #dessin #dessiner #diseño #balandra #mexico #lapazmexico #seaofcortez #beach
Such an incredible experience to be in the water, living privileged and intimate moments with nature. And ontop of that, trying to capture some of it with drawing. It felt like an animal drawing workshop given by nature itself! It's been an incredible week with incredible creatures: both animal & human! Now back to the studio to complete what has been waiting for me. #animalart #animalsketch #wildlifeart #nature #wildanimals #drawingfromlife #draw #pasteldrawing #underwaterdrawing #underwater #underthesea #sealion #whaleshark #sealionpup #getwet #divein #snorkling #contemporaryartist #artlife #art #classicrevival #traditionalart #travellingartist #travel #seaofcortez #ocean
Sketching live animals is both difficult and rewarding, and a perfect fusion between the love for art and being under the sea. Definitely the more unusual material list, and I'm relieved that my improvised combo worked out. When underwater and fixated on your subject, you need stuff to attach your materials to avoid them sinking or floating away. And remember: reef friendly sun protection lotion. #animalart #animaldrawing #animalsketch #drawing #draw #pasteldrawing #fromlife #drawingfromlife #liveanimals #dessin #nature #creative #creativeuprising #ebauche #esquisse #lapazmexico #coralreef #contemporaryartist #contemporaryart #instasketch #instadrawings #instadraw #carandache #oceans #sealife #artlover #sealover
A week of underwater sketching has been amazing. The sea lions of LaPaz Mexico are very cooperative. My lost pastels in my lost luggage was not a complete disaster, as #crayola helped out for the first few days! More sketches and stories coming soon. #sketch #underwatersketch #drawing #drawingfromlife #animalart #animalsketch #sealion #underwaterdrawing #gesturedrawing #snorkling #seaofcortez #lapazmexico #instaart #instasketch #instadrawings #animaldrawing #contemporaryartist #fromlife #livedrawing #sealife #fishsketch #coralreef #oceanart #dessin #dessinanimalier #dessiner #otarie #poisson
Getting prepared with unfamiliar materials, for an unfamiliar project, in a new working environment. All I can say for now, is that it will involve water, the outdoors, and close encounters with beatiful creatures. Can't wait! #adventure #drawing #pleinairpainting #draw #instaart #instaartist #wildlifeart #animalart #sketchbook #sketch #pastel #pasteldrawing #drawingfromlife #
One of those days where you need to improve on the design of legs, and end up repainting the whole figure! It's always good to repaint something, as it usually comes out better at every passage. The biggest enemy of the painter? Being precious. Don't settle. Push and give yourself a chance to improve. In discomfort we discover & improve. #paint #painter #oilpainting #oiloncanvas #portraitpainting #portraiture #figurativepainting #figurativeart #classicrevival #classicalrealism #traditionalart #leportrait #peinturealhuile #dontbeprecious #design #composition #instaart #instartist #contemporaryrealism #contemporaryartist #contemporarypainting
Shamelessly mentioning Ilya Repin (1844-1930) and myself in the same post! Finding inspiration & guidance in the colour sketches done by Repin, as i finish face after face in my own painting. The colour sketches were for his giant group portrait (approx 13ft x 30ft)of the Russian State council. It took him 3 years to complete: 1901-03. A must-see if you visit St Petersburg's Russian musem. #oilpainting #oiloncanvas #peinturealhuile #painter #art #portraitcommission #portraitpainting #oldmasters #repin #stpetersburg #russianart #russianmuseum #leportrait #faces #museeoceanographiquedemonaco #closeup #figurativepainting #classicalrealism #contemporaryrealism
Catching up with hands. When dealing with a large space, too much detail can be distracting from the big impression. As long as the values work, you're on the right track. Even though these hands are not highly finished yet, from afar, they're already integrating the big impression. (for those who are paying attention, there is a hand missing there, and another face to finish). A lot of glare for now :( #oilpainting #peinturealhuile #portraitcommission #portraitpainting #portraiture #hands #paintinghands #closeup #brushstrokes #art #instaart #contemporaryrealism #contemporaryartist #museeoceanographiquedemonaco #oiloncanvas #ontheeasel #leportrait #paint #painter #mains
Sometimes you just need a bigger plumbline! Just double-checking my verticals are in order, while my palette looks like a colour minefield. It would be a shame if i threw all this paint on there, and find out at the end that it's all wonky. The end is in sight, and im looking forward to sharing the full composition soon. #oilpainting #peinturealhuile #portraitpainting #portraiture #portraitcommission #leportrait #oiloncanvas #palette #classicalrealism #figurativepainting #studiolife #ontheeasel #art #contemporaryrealism #contemporaryartist #instaart
Grateful to have made it into ARC's 13th annual international salon. Some impressive work being done by so many painters out there, keeping the spirit of representational painting alive and strong. #artrenewalcenter #artsalon #oilpainting #charcoal #landscapepainting #stilllife #classicalrealism #classicrevival #contemporaryrealism #contemporaryart #contemporaryartist #art #paint #drawing #peinturealhuile #dessin