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By JORGE SANCHEZ, Times Staff WriterA portrait painting class gives attendees an outlet for expression and a place to unwind.
Quiet! Painters at work!
That could be the motto of the Citrus County Portrait Artists Group, which meets at the Citrus County Art League. With about a dozen painters immersed deeply in their study of a model at a recent session, the only sound was a hand slapping pigment on a canvas.
Portrait painting is studious work: A model sits absolutely still for 20 minutes at a time, while all around, painters try to capture an essence created by the many illuminating details that each living soul possesses.
The artists' hands move like hummingbirds across the canvases, smudging chalk, streaking watercolors. Some use the time-honored technique of sticking out their thumb for perspective.
With 12 artists all looking at the same thing, the diversity in the paintings becomes an additional creative dimension. What some see as red, others see as brown, with a flourish of rust. While some strive for detail, the expressionists niche out shadow and light.
In the end, at a recent portrait session, one model dressed as a clown inspired about a dozen different works. Doesn't matter - that's part of the allure of portrait painting.
"You paint what you see," said John Bescher, who facilitates the group. "But not everyone sees the same thing.
"I like to walk around and see what everyone else is doing. You can learn a lot from that, both successes and mistakes, and apply it to your own art. It's the slight imperfections that distinguish great art from a photograph."
The portrait painting class meets at 2:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 9:30 a.m. Fridays at the Art and Entertainment Building at the Art League campus, 2644 N Annapolis Ave., off County Road 486 between Citrus Hills and Hernando.
The artists use pen and pencil, oils, watercolors or acrylics. There is no formal study plan. A painter just shows up, positions his paints and easel to a get good view of the model and begins to work. There is a $2 charge, paid to the model.
The class recently met to paint an unusual portrait subject: Wrinkles the Clown, a.k.a. Frank Gabrus, 76, of Beverly Hills. Usually, members of the class sit in as subjects.
"We do have some special models, such as family groups, and we're going to have a dancer in leotard striking quick poses, so people can do several studies," Bescher said.
Among the painters are Anthony Russak and his wife, Patricia. Their expressionist approach focuses on shadow, light and form as opposed to producing a realistic interpretation.
But that's beside the point, Anthony Russak said.
"I paint for therapy," he said. "I concentrate so hard that the outside world goes away."
And what about the finished paintings?
"Most of them just get put in a pile," he said.
- Jorge Sanchez covers arts and entertainment in Citrus County. Call 860-7313 or e-mail sanchez@sptimes.com