Small... But Not Restricted

Tessa Guzé, Fearless, 12" x 16" 2013

The Galleries at Moore are currently having an exhibition of alumni work titled Small... but Not Restricted. The Galleries at Moore are located on the campus of Moore College of Art & Design in center city Philadelphia, PA. I submitted this small oil painting titled Fearless.

 

Photo of Small...But Not Restricted Annual Alumni Exhibition 2014

This is one of the first oil paintings I completed after the birth of my daughter. (Besides a children's book commission that was due a month after she was born and barely got finished in time!) It was of course inspired by her, though not a portrait. At six weeks her first bashful and cheeky smiles were already lighting up the room. However time to paint is still something I have to steal during her naps. 

I did the underdrawing for this while she was napping in my left arm, and I did the painting during a second 45 minute nap the next day. Having this kind of time pressure is definitely freeing up my painting and allowing me to be looser and more painterly! Here is a photo of the inspiration itself. 

THE INSPIRATION!

Four months later and still my greatest source of inspiration, don't think this is going to change any time soon.

To see more of my paintings please visit my portfolio website. 

Blue Sari - painting process

Tessa Guzé, Blue Sari 2012, 16"x20"

This is a painting of a young girl from Mumbai wearing a blue sari. This painting is currently on display at the Durham Arts Council. 

I took a few photos as I worked on this painting to show my painting process. 

I started by toning the canvas with a thin layer of blue oil paint because I knew I wanted this painting to have blue undertones. 

toned canvas

After the canvas was toned and dried I drew a rough charcoal sketch on the canvas. I like to do a sketch in charcoal instead of an underpainting because it is quicker, but it still helps to map out the painting and determine values.

charcoal sketch

After the sketch was completed I sprayed it with workable fixative, this stops the charcoal from running and muddying the oil paint. Then I did the painting in oil paint, using turpentine and linseed oil. 

Finished painting

If you would like to see more of my work please visit my painting portfolio or my fine art blog.

Portrait of Anna

Tessa Guze, Portrait of Anna, oil on canvas

This is an oil on canvas portrait of Anna Corbett. I meet Anna when she was teaching English in South Korea.

To see more similar work please visit my painting portfolio website or my fine arts painting blog.

Portrait of Alex

Tessa Guze, Portrait of Alex, oil on canvas, 8"x10"

This is a portrait of a good friend of mine, Alex. She is smart, tough, creative and full of energy and attitude.

Ye Ji

Tessa Guze, Portrait of Ye Ji, oil on canvas, 16"x20"

This is a portrait of one of my best students. She attends the school where I teach in Gwangju, Korea.

If you are interested in seeing more of my work please visit my portrait painting portfolio website or my artist's blog.

HeART for Hope

Tessa Guze, Determination, oil on canvas

The Duange Prateep Foundation has organized an art exhibition and auction to mark the first anniversary of the Japanese tsunami. Pieces of artwork have been donated by artists from all over the world and are being auctioned. The money raised from the auction will fund a nine-day-camp for Japanese and Thai victimes of the tsunamis and other severe hardships. They will learn that they are not alone in their present suffering, There are other victims who have shared similar fates. They will engage in activities of experience-sharing and mutual support so they can begin to emerge from their current suffering and find hope in their futures.

The exhibition and auction is this March, 2012 at the Central World Complex at Rajprasong, Bankok.

If you are interested in seeing more of my work please visit my painting, illustration and fine arts website or my artist's blog.