Reflections of an Artist

Mian Situ Demonstration

I have admired Mian Situ's painting both at the Gold Medal Show for the California Art Club and at the Masters of the American West Exhibition at the Autry Museum so when the CAC scheduled a portrait demo with him I jumped at the chance. It involved four 20 minute poses with a model. Above is his initial sketch and the model he was painting.

Mian was quick to block in the massed and was soon adding the lighter colors on the face.

Mian Situ blocking in the main shapes

The primer is a combination of black, burnt umber and white. It is a soft putty color that can look blue against the peach skin tones or tan against the black hair. Mian mentioned that he rarely uses black from the tube but instead will mix a black to keep the darks lively.

Portrait at the first break

After the break, Mian continued to lay in the different plains of the face. As he worked on the portrait, the features began to emerge.

Starting on details

The California Art Club did a wonderful job of setting up the room so everyone had a great view. They also providing two screens with a projected image of the portrait as Mian was painting.

Here is the painting at the second break.
I hope you will come back to see the final two segments of this demonstration by Mian Situ in tomorrows post.