My mom was an artist who loved to paint, so I grew up around paints, canvases, and her creative works. I've always liked painting portraits, maybe because they require more precision than still lifes or landscapes (you can be off a little bit painting an apple on a plate, and everyone still knows it's an apple, but if you miss your subject's nose by a millimeter, it becomes a painting of a totally different person).
I've always liked trying to be precise with my hands, which is probably the reason I ended up with a career in surgery. Doing portraits requires a lot of precision.
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This is the first portrait I ever painted. It is of my older brother Pete's, daughter Jamie. I painted the figure from the bottom up, and my technique on the skin went from blotchy on the legs to smooth on the face. I like the smooth style better and have used it ever since.
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I also prefer realism, probably because I'm still somewhat insecure as an artist. If you create something abstract, you may have to convince people that it's good.
If you paint a portrait, and it is spot on perfect -- almost photographic -- then no one can argue that you're not good, at least technically. In time I hope to explore some more abstract, loose-form styles in painting.
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Left: The latest thing I have done is a portrait of my mentor and family friend, Fred Teal, MD. It hangs in our office.
Right: Portrait of Casey.
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Left: Is my only attempt at sculpture (so far).
Bottom (left to right): Portrait of Karin and my late brother, Pete.
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