Slumping in a chair by Marjorie Firth

Oh my goodness what a lovely portrait !!

I think it’s a stunner Marjorie, particularly left as it is . The rough canvas is a bonus to the viewer but as I don’t use oils I wouldn’t know how it affects the actual painting.

I like this very much. The vignette effect with the bare canvas works a treat.

What a great portrait!

Thank you Valerie, Paul, Lewis ( nice to see you back!) and Lynda.

I’m surprised you can achieve such good detail with your palette knife Marjorie- really good portrait.

Very good slumping Marjorie and a great portrait of a loved one I suspect?

I’m liking this course grain, it would suit my style. Is it in a pad or loose sheets Marjorie. I’m really impressed with this sketch… it’s so good, you have a great talent for these portrait sketches!

Tessa I need to practice more with the palette knife….and yes, Heather, he’s that!

Thanks Alan, praise indeed! I like doing quick sketches…on to the next!

L0vely portrait!

Good effect Marjorie. Just the right amount of detail, and interesting pose.

Alan, it came in a pad, each sheet gummed down. Bell'Arti. The last "page" is a canvas board, which is a bonus.

I like this. The textured canvas sheet adds so interest.

Great skin tones Marjorie. I respectfully request a blog (or a forum thread) on your palette etc. Would be really useful for those of us who don't do portraits! But only if you want to/have time of course!!

Sarah, I always start with the Zorn palette - white, cad red or vermilion, yellow ochre and black ( or Payne's Grey). From these 4 colours you can make a multitude! Then, if necessary, depending on skin characteristics, eg. fair skin, I might add alizarin crimson for a pink look. To liven things up you can add a splash of turquoise here and there, or a blue. It's up to you.

Superb artwork.

Thank you very much Anne, John, Skylar, Stephen and Sarah.

Brilliant Marjorie.

Lovely portrait Marjorie, looks so realistic and the pigments for his facial features and hand gesture worked a treat!

Thanks Marjorie, I’ll get myself a pad, looks just the job for my quick preliminary sketches…

That's great Marjorie, thanks very much for the info!

Super portrait Marjorie

I’m back… the ones on Jackson’s look white, your posting looks like a tinted ground, which is what appealed to me. Or did you tint it yourself?

Alan, the canvas sheets are natural colour, they are white on the back. I’ve just ordered another pad - I hope they haven’t changed them!

Me again Alan. I’ve just had a look on Jacksons - they do look white. I’ll give them a ring tomorrow. I hope they ‘re natural coloured - I haven’t kept the front cover but that looks the same.

Right, I’ll hold off from ordering a pad until you’ve spoken to them… I rarely paint on a white ground, you’re probably the same person, which is why your portrait caught my attention.

Super portrait Marjorie and the coarse grain has a wonderful texture to it. Lovely work.

A stunning portrait.

I really like the 'unfinished' look Marjorie, the bare canvas really adds to the portrait which incidentally is fantastic. I particularly like that hand and done with a palette knife too!

I saw this first on Facebook, and was very struck by it - Paul asks about leaving bare canvas, and I think Marjories and I would confirm that you can do this without any problems arising, especially when the canvas is tinted. I'm with Alan and Marjorie on the attractions of the weave - ideal degree of tooth, especially for knife work - it doesn't look messy to me at all: every element of the portrait complements the others, if that makes any sense. I take it that this is Mr Firth - I think we've seen him before? Looking pensive ...

Excellent work as usual Marjorie

Alan - Update on BelleArti product. Just phoned Jacksons…they don’t know, it looks as though it may be white. I’ve kept my order so when it arrives I’ll post the info.

Really good portrait Marjorie

Thanks for that… don’t know! What’s wrong with taking a look… I’ll hold fire then until I hear from you. I don’t want white, I want something already to work on when out and about!

I love the unfinished look on many subjects, to me it leaves that space to fully enjoy the main attraction. Superb portrait Marjorie.

Brilliant!

Love your portraits, Marjorie this one is so relaxingly pensive. Superb.

Thanks everyone for all your supportive comments, they’re always appreciated.

Looks so good, Marjorie

Very good

Really wondeful Marjorie

Wow, totally speechless. Great talent you have Marjorie!

Thanks again everyone!