Showing posts with label people. Show all posts
Showing posts with label people. Show all posts

Thursday, June 22, 2017

Les Deux Magots, original oil painting by Dominique Amendola



 Les Deux Magots


If you click on the image, you'll get a larger view.
This image is under strict copyright to Dominique Amendola. 

This painting, (oil on linen canvas), was painted in Paris, France. 
Actually, I started this painting a year ago and had to let it sit for a long time because I got so many art commissions. 
It is executed with a soft style, with several layers of glazes. The scene is interesting to look at because there is so much interaction going on. 
It depicts a cafe scene in Paris. Les Deux Magots is one of the most famous cafe located in the quarters of Saint-Germain-Des-Pres. It once had a reputation as the rendezvous of the literary and intellectual lite of the city. It is now a popular tourist destination. 
There is a lot happening in this scene: 3 couples are prominent, as well as the waiter and a woman cutting cake with a fork. From left to right, there is the old guy reading the newspaper with a bored blond. A woman with glasses is cutting a piece of cake, also reading the paper. The waiter is taking another couple's order with a guy squinting and deciding what he wants to order. There is the couple on the right with the talkative guy in red, while his girl friend is checking her phone. In the back ground various people are doing what we all do in a cafe, trying to enjoy a drink or something and soaking the atmosphere. The inside of the cafe is quite dark by contrast, but here and there, the lights are on. 
                                              



Now I am going to show you details of this new painting: 



He is reading the newspaper, she is just waiting.



She is cutting a piece of cake with her fork, eating while reading the paper.



The waiter is busy attending a couple and carrying many orders.



He is talking animately while she is checking her phone.





It is difficult to see the softness of the artwork with photos but here are a couple details which give an idea of this work.
Click on the images to see a larger view.




The original artwork is available.

To purchase the painting click here:
ORIGINAL ARTWORK 

You can get all sort of prints from me_canvas prints, framed print, art print, metal print, wood print and more for this painting.
To purchase a print of this painting:

ALSO ANOTHER PRINT IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS ARTWORK; SEE IT BELOW:


To Purchase this print click here:



WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE ART? WOULD YOU LIKE TO ORDER ORIGINALS OR PRINTS DIRECTLY FROM THE ARTIST? PLEASE VISIT MY SITE: http://dominiqueamendola.com

Oil paintings executed in nature, with or without people, and beautiful color images, sometimes executed outdoors or in the studio. Some compositions are horizontal or vertical. Some pictures have beautiful skies with sunsets or blue horizons. Some paintings represent flowers, some water, some are green with grass and trees. Some will take you to exotic travel destinations, such as India.This is art. Figurative realism by contemporary artist Dominique Amendola : figures painting, landscapes painting and spiritual art, artwork for sale. Oil paintings for sale online. Virtual Art Gallery realism, figurative, landscape, spiritual art, by contemporary artist Dominique Amendola. Collection of figurative contemporary - Women - canvas oil paintings, acrylic paintings, pastel drawings. Oil painting on canvas, original paintings art. Artwork by Dominique Amendola for sale. Oil painting on canvas. Original paintings art for sale by Dominique Amendola


TO SEE MORE ART GO TO MY SITE:
Dominique Amendola-California, US, India, France, Classical realism and impressionism figures and landscapes painter

Thursday, March 3, 2016

New oil painting by Dominique Amendola: North India street scene



North India street scene


If you click on the image, you'll get a larger view.
This image is under strict copyright to Dominique Amendola. 

This painting was executed in India as the previous ones were too. The golden light is an evening occurence with the long shadows. The technique uses both paint brushes and palette knife.
See details below to see both:
                                                               
                                                                             

Detail showing the brush work. I have an ocher yellow glaze as an underpainting that you see showing through the brush strokes.


Detail showing the palette knife work, it is very thick paint with not so many details.


I focused on the figures in the foreground, giving them more details that the groups in the background. See some details below:
   




The groups in the background are painted in a more impressionistic way. See detail below:


Notice how the figures do not really have defined feature. 

This is a painting with a very pleasant evening light, full of life all over the canvas, with contrasts of  details and technique depicting life in typical North India.

To purchase the original artwork: 

To purchase a print of this painting:


WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE ART? WOULD YOU LIKE TO ORDER ORIGINALS OR PRINTS DIRECTLY FROM THE ARTIST? PLEASE VISIT MY SITE: http://dominiqueamendola.com

Oil paintings executed in nature, with or without people, and beautiful color images, sometimes executed outdoors or in the studio. Some compositions are horizontal or vertical. Some pictures have beautiful skies with sunsets or blue horizons. Some paintings represent flowers, some water, some are green with grass and trees. Some will take you to exotic travel destinations, such as India.This is art. Figurative realism by contemporary artist Dominique Amendola : figures painting, landscapes painting and spiritual art, artwork for sale. Oil paintings for sale online. Virtual Art Gallery realism, figurative, landscape, spiritual art, by contemporary artist Dominique Amendola. Collection of figurative contemporary - Women - canvas oil paintings, acrylic paintings, pastel drawings. Oil painting on canvas, original paintings art. Artwork by Dominique Amendola for sale. Oil painting on canvas. Original paintings art for sale by Dominique Amendola


To see more art go to my site:
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Dominique Amendola-California, US, India, France, Classical realism and impressionism figures and landscapes painter

Thursday, September 24, 2015

The making of "Here comes the sun" oil painting on linen canvas by Dominique Amendola



Here comes the sun


If you click on the image, you'll get a larger view.
This image is under strict copyright to Dominique Amendola. 

'Here comes the sun', sings George Harrison on a happy tune. When I saw the girl on the porch with her guitar, I had to paint her. Her hair was very thick, golden and curly_just lovely. I painted this piece on quality linen canvas. First I went for sketches. Below, you can see the final sketch. What are sketches good for? First they help solving the problem of composition, light and dark before going on the canvas. Then the shapes get refined to what is needed. A sketch will take just a few days at most, while a painting can take several months. This particular painting took me three months to complete. You can see in the sketch I am solving a lot of problems. This sketch becomes a reference point even when the model is absent.




                                                            If you click on the image, you'll get a larger view.

After the sketches the painting itself starts in earnest. However, in this case, I painted an underpainting of grisaille first. That means that with very few colors, the painting is established. In this case, I used only raw umber and white. Then the final colors are glazed on this underpainting, after it is very dry. It is best to wait several days, depending on the medium used. The advantage of the grisaille technique is that at first, the artist only worries about shapes and values.


                                                             
                                                                   Grisaille layer
                                                             

Then the colors can be applied in layers of glazes.


                                                       Here comes the sun detail view 1


                                                       Here comes the sun detail view 2




To purchase the original artwork: 

To purchase a print of this painting:


WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE ART? WOULD YOU LIKE TO ORDER ORIGINALS OR PRINTS DIRECTLY FROM THE ARTIST? PLEASE VISIT MY SITE: http://dominiqueamendola.com

Oil paintings executed in nature, with or without people, and beautiful color images, sometimes executed outdoors or in the studio. Some compositions are horizontal or vertical. Some pictures have beautiful skies with sunsets or blue horizons. Some paintings represent flowers, some water, some are green with grass and trees. Some will take you to exotic travel destinations, such as India.This is art. Figurative realism by contemporary artist Dominique Amendola : figures painting, landscapes painting and spiritual art, artwork for sale. Oil paintings for sale online. Virtual Art Gallery realism, figurative, landscape, spiritual art, by contemporary artist Dominique Amendola. Collection of figurative contemporary - Women - canvas oil paintings, acrylic paintings, pastel drawings. Oil painting on canvas, original paintings art. Artwork by Dominique Amendola for sale. Oil painting on canvas. Original paintings art for sale by Dominique Amendola


To see more art go to my site:
Dominique Amendola-California, US, India, France, Classical realism and impressionism figures and landscapes painter

Thursday, July 16, 2015

The making of "the street guitarist" Oil painting by Dominique Amendola


The street guitarist



I used to take shots of people in the street and this guitarist was playing in California, trying his best to look and sound like Bob Dylan. That afternoon, he was sitting in front of a wall with his guitar case opened. I decided to make a painting of him. Again, this is a quick painting, executed in a day, spontaneous, Alla Prima. I first created a color sketch. The dominant color was going to be pale yellow akin to the sunlight; a cool morning sun, while the musician's face of a ruddy complexion shows how much time he spends outdoors.
Music is always a winning subject matter and since I had created a previous painting with musicians, this one was also going to keep in the same mood. The style is impressionistic, I gave myself three hours to finish the actual 8" x 10 "painting!




If you click on the image, you'll get a larger view.


You can see that this is executed boldly with thick paint, quickly. 

I paint from the life model once a week, and this is important to understand how to paint from a photo or from imagination. There is the understanding of the different planes and what makes a volume. And there is the understanding of the correct colors applied rapidly without much preparation. Therefore, the painting comes out more spontaneously.



                                                    

I framed this painting in a very classical frame, especially suited for impressionism. At the Orsay museum in Paris, a whole floor is dedicated to the impressionists. The frames used are varied but the above type of frame is the most common. Below you can see one of Renoir's beautiful still life framed in this frame genre. 



                                                                          Renoir, Onions, 1881

To purchase the original artwork: 

To purchase a print of this painting:


WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE ART? WOULD YOU LIKE TO ORDER ORIGINALS OR PRINTS DIRECTLY FROM THE ARTIST? PLEASE VISIT MY SITE: http://dominiqueamendola.com

Oil paintings executed in nature, with or without people, and beautiful color images, sometimes executed outdoors or in the studio. Some compositions are horizontal or vertical. Some pictures have beautiful skies with sunsets or blue horizons. Some paintings represent flowers, some water, some are green with grass and trees. Some will take you to exotic travel destinations, such as India.This is art. Figurative realism by contemporary artist Dominique Amendola : figures painting, landscapes painting and spiritual art, artwork for sale. Oil paintings for sale online. Virtual Art Gallery realism, figurative, landscape, spiritual art, by contemporary artist Dominique Amendola. Collection of figurative contemporary - Women - canvas oil paintings, acrylic paintings, pastel drawings. Oil painting on canvas, original paintings art. Artwork by Dominique Amendola for sale. Oil painting on canvas. Original paintings art for sale by Dominique Amendola


To see more art go to my site:
Dominique Amendola-California, US, India, France, Classical realism and impressionism figures and landscapes painter

Thursday, July 9, 2015

The making of 'Musicians practicing on the doorstep' oil painting by Dominique Amendola


Musicians practicing on the doorstep




'Musicians practicing on the doorstepis a small painting painted on canvas. I was inspired to paint those two musicians by hearing their music. The beauty of the instruments was particularly inspiring. The cello especially is beautiful and noble.




If you click on the image, you'll get a larger view.


Having a physical space to create paintings is very important. The place should be big enough not to collapse into different easels. I like to work on several paintings side by side_up to three. And a high ceiling is conducive to higher thinking. When I started my small paintings, I already had many years of painting large compositions on canvas, in a very classical fashion. 
I wanted to produce some more affordable art in a quick style, mostly called 'Alla prima' which is painting in one jet, one coat and no glazes. I was used to underpainting and many preparatory sketches. Here I am just painting quickly, trying to finishing a piece in a day or two. 

'Musicians practicing on the doorstep'  focuses more on the instruments than the figures. But again, here I pay particular attention to the composition:


                                                    



Lots of vertical and horizontal lines giving a sense of stability. A sense of depth created by the steps and the dark door opening. Barely any colors except in the instruments and the blue shadows. 

The above mentioned painting is framed in black:






To purchase the original artwork: 

To purchase a print of this painting:


WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE ART? WOULD YOU LIKE TO ORDER ORIGINALS OR PRINTS DIRECTLY FROM THE ARTIST? PLEASE VISIT MY SITE: http://dominiqueamendola.com

Oil paintings executed in nature, with or without people, and beautiful color images, sometimes executed outdoors or in the studio. Some compositions are horizontal or vertical. Some pictures have beautiful skies with sunsets or blue horizons. Some paintings represent flowers, some water, some are green with grass and trees. Some will take you to exotic travel destinations, such as India.This is art. Figurative realism by contemporary artist Dominique Amendola : figures painting, landscapes painting and spiritual art, artwork for sale. Oil paintings for sale online. Virtual Art Gallery realism, figurative, landscape, spiritual art, by contemporary artist Dominique Amendola. Collection of figurative contemporary - Women - canvas oil paintings, acrylic paintings, pastel drawings. Oil painting on canvas, original paintings art. Artwork by Dominique Amendola for sale. Oil painting on canvas. Original paintings art for sale by Dominique Amendola


To see more art go to my site:
Dominique Amendola-California, US, India, France, Classical realism and impressionism figures and landscapes painter


Thursday, July 2, 2015

The making of 'The Bathers', oil on wood by Dominique Amendola

The bathers


'The Bathers' is a small painting painted on wood. However, that same painting was commissioned in a longer and larger format by an art collector from Switzerland. You can see that other version below:



If you click on the image, you'll get a larger view.


'The Bathers' is an entire painting based on colors, brush strokes and composition. The first version (the version we are discussing now) is quite impressionistic in its execution. 

The brush strokes are strong using raw colors. Those juxtaposed strokes of colors give an impression of realism, but if you analyze it, it is not very realistic. 


                                                    
                                                                    Detail view 1



                                                                     Detail view 2

                                                                     
                 
                                                                       Detail view 3


In my youth, I visited many exhibitions in Paris and went to the Louvre museum countless times. I have some of the famous paintings imprinted in my psyche. I really think this little painting's composition was inspired by The Raft of the Méduse by Theodore Gericault'. (I saw that masterpiece many times at the Louvre.)



                                               The Raft of the Méduse by Theodore Gericault'


The above mentioned painting is evidently painted in a very different style, but the composition contains some similarities:




Notice how many horizontal lines give a sense of calm and peace and the triangular compositions give a sense of stability.

Fortunately this artwork depicts some happy bathers, not a party of shipwrecked people on a raft. It is executed quickly and cannot compare to a classical painting. The intention here was to convey a group of friends having a great time on a hot afternoon in a contemporary impressionist style. 


To purchase the original artwork: 

To purchase a print of this painting:


WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE ART? WOULD YOU LIKE TO ORDER ORIGINALS OR PRINTS DIRECTLY FROM THE ARTIST? PLEASE VISIT MY SITE: http://dominiqueamendola.com

Oil paintings executed in nature, with or without people, and beautiful color images, sometimes executed outdoors or in the studio. Some compositions are horizontal or vertical. Some pictures have beautiful skies with sunsets or blue horizons. Some paintings represent flowers, some water, some are green with grass and trees. Some will take you to exotic travel destinations, such as India.This is art. Figurative realism by contemporary artist Dominique Amendola : figures painting, landscapes painting and spiritual art, artwork for sale. Oil paintings for sale online. Virtual Art Gallery realism, figurative, landscape, spiritual art, by contemporary artist Dominique Amendola. Collection of figurative contemporary - Women - canvas oil paintings, acrylic paintings, pastel drawings. Oil painting on canvas, original paintings art. Artwork by Dominique Amendola for sale. Oil painting on canvas. Original paintings art for sale by Dominique Amendola


To see more art go to my site:
Dominique Amendola-California, US, India, France, Classical realism and impressionism figures and landscapes painter



Thursday, June 18, 2015

The making of a small painting : "Lovers leaning against a bicycle", oil on canvas by dominique Amendola


                                                      Lovers leaning against a bicycle

The birds are singing, the bare trees are just burgeoning, it's spring! And is spring not the time for young lovers? In this painting as with "Lovers eating a snack", I did not want details. Rather I was looking for a contemporary impressionist look. I wanted to convey the simplicity of a young couple who meets in nature. Please have a look at the girl's expression, even so she is painted with no details:




Her face denotes a sense of profound satisfaction and security.

The painting is very busy with gray shadows from the bicycle and gray shapes for the trees in the background. However, the vertical line of the road sign and the horizontal ( not fully horizontal but slightly diagonal) of the bicycle handlebars, keeps us focused on the lovers and ground us.
Horizontal lines suggest a feeling of rest or repose because objects parallel to the earth are at rest.
Horizontal and vertical lines used in combination communicate stability and solidity.

In contrast, the feet of the couple express a candid expression of vulnerability and innocence.

See the following diagram:


The two major colors are complementary (green and orange) with blue as a key note.

The couple stands stable (expressed by their verticality), however, their vulnerability is expressed here too. Aren't they leaning against a bicycle after all? How stable is that?


To purchase the original artwork: 

To purchase a print of this painting:


WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE ART? WOULD YOU LIKE TO ORDER ORIGINALS OR PRINTS DIRECTLY FROM THE ARTIST? PLEASE VISIT MY SITE: http://dominiqueamendola.com

Oil paintings executed in nature, with or without people, and beautiful color images, sometimes executed outdoors or in the studio. Some compositions are horizontal or vertical. Some pictures have beautiful skies with sunsets or blue horizons. Some paintings represent flowers, some water, some are green with grass and trees. Some will take you to exotic travel destinations, such as India.This is art. Figurative realism by contemporary artist Dominique Amendola : figures painting, landscapes painting and spiritual art, artwork for sale. Oil paintings for sale online. Virtual Art Gallery realism, figurative, landscape, spiritual art, by contemporary artist Dominique Amendola. Collection of figurative contemporary - Women - canvas oil paintings, acrylic paintings, pastel drawings. Oil painting on canvas, original paintings art. Artwork by Dominique Amendola for sale. Oil painting on canvas. Original paintings art for sale by Dominique Amendola


To see more art go to my site:
Dominique Amendola-California, US, India, France, Classical realism and impressionism figures and landscapes painter





Thursday, June 11, 2015

The making of a small oil painting on wood panel: "Couple eating a snack" by Dominique Amendola


I began with the wood panel support, made of birch plywood of the best quality. I sanded and primed the panel 3, 4 times. Every time a new coat of primer was applied I carefully sanded it. To paint on those wood panels is a pleasure: the brush glides on the surface and allows very fine brush strokes, unlike canvas, which is a bit rougher. There are many different types of canvases, from portrait (very fine) to rough. There is cotton canvas, linen canvas, and even synthetic cloth canvas. Anyway, if the consideration of weigh when shipping a painting was not a problem I would always prefer painting on wood, because the brush just glides on the surface and very fine details come out superbly.
With this painting, I did not want details, however, rather I was looking for a contemporary impressionist look.

Please see the brush strokes in this detail view:



Also, my idea was to have the viewer focus on the figures rather than the background. I therefore kept all surrounding elements monochrome and used colors only on the figures and bench. I also believe in "key notes" in my artwork. These "key notes" are usually two colors contrasting and one color being the "key". It is more or less what is called a split complementary color scheme as shown below:


As you can see I used purple( the girl's shirt) and orange ( the bench) contrasting with green (the girl's pants).

The composition is also very elaborate: The girl's leg being a diagonal is inviting us inside the picture, while the boy's legs stops the eye from going out of the picture. As we learn in Social Media, not to take people out of a website by using a link directing them to another website and therefore distracting their attention, similarly, the artist always endeavors to keep the viewer's eye riveted to the  artwork. See compositional diagram below:


However, the most important thing in a painting is the emotion and no technique or tricks can replace the emotion conveyed in an artwork. 
In this painting, I felt the peaceful attitude of this couple, satisfied to take a break on a bench near a store front and this is what I desired to impart to the viewer.

To purchase the original artwork: 

To purchase a print of this painting:


WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE ART? WOULD YOU LIKE TO ORDER ORIGINALS OR PRINTS DIRECTLY FROM THE ARTIST? PLEASE VISIT MY SITE: http://dominiqueamendola.com

Oil paintings executed in nature, with or without people, and beautiful color images, sometimes executed outdoors or in the studio. Some compositions are horizontal or vertical. Some pictures have beautiful skies with sunsets or blue horizons. Some paintings represent flowers, some water, some are green with grass and trees. Some will take you to exotic travel destinations, such as India.This is art. Figurative realism by contemporary artist Dominique Amendola : figures painting, landscapes painting and spiritual art, artwork for sale. Oil paintings for sale online. Virtual Art Gallery realism, figurative, landscape, spiritual art, by contemporary artist Dominique Amendola. Collection of figurative contemporary - Women - canvas oil paintings, acrylic paintings, pastel drawings. Oil painting on canvas, original paintings art. Artwork by Dominique Amendola for sale. Oil painting on canvas. Original paintings art for sale by Dominique Amendola


To see more art go to my site:
Dominique Amendola-California, US, India, France, Classical realism and impressionism figures and landscapes painter