A glimpse behind the scenes! Lately, my bird portraits typically go through three phases on their way to completion.

First the sketching and portrait painting with acrylics… Well, I suppose before that is choosing the subject, researching classifications and images of the bird and planning the composition. Then a traditional portrait painted in acrylic.

Second, spray painting the background. This harkens back to a senior project in high school where I spray painted the school’s steel drums with a stencil pattern. I hand cut stencils or use plants to finish the negative space. And lots of tape to protect the main character.

The final phase, and most tedious, the finish treatment. Having used this technique to finish many butcher block kitchen counters during renovation projects, I experimented with an old cormorant portrait, loved the final surface and haven’t looked back. The process is not for the faint of heart - you have a short time frame to manipulate the medium before the chemical reaction causes the surface to harden. And did I mention you have to use a heat gun or torch? 48 hours to cure (harden) and the piece is finished!

There you have it! A finished portrait.

If you’re interested in a piece or commission, don’t hesitate to contact me! And please stop by my show at the Triangle Gallery in Rockland, Maine for the month of July!