From a blank surface shapes of color connect together as a face emerges with strokes of bravo and movement in the background. Such is the execution of painting a portrait from a live model for Ilene Gienger-Stanfield.

On November 2, at Hilligoss Galleries in Chicago, Ilene will demonstrate her process of painting a portrait. The demonstration will include questions from onlookers as Ilene captures the spirit and likeness of the model.

Gienger-Stanfield is gaining international recognition for her strong and colorful figurative paintings. Ilene teaches workshops nationwide and is a signature member of Pastel Society of America, NW Pastel Society, and Women Artist's of the West. Gienger-Stanfield has been featured in The Pastel Journal and The Artist's Magazine with a multitude of awards under her palette.

Join Hilligoss Galleries and Ilene on November 2, 10am-1pm, at 520 No. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, for a beginning to end portrait demonstration.

For ten years, McIntyre worked to create a large body of work commemorating the women of the 1800’s. This work has traveled nationally, she has written a book and been featured in magazines. Carol will tell how and why she pursued her passion, how she structured the series, give tips on drawing hands and humor you with “life as an artist” stories.

Ms. Hyland will demonstrate painting a portrait in watercolor from a live model at the gallery. Jeanne paints in several steps/layers to build a portrait after first completing a loose sketch to block out the general shapes, values & gestures that she finds in her subject. Several different watercolor techniques may be used to create the sense of the sitter’s character.

Some of Hyland’s early art influences were sculptors—Rodin, Degas, Michelangelo, and painters such as Botticelli, Jacopo Portormo, and VerMeer. Her original training in sculpture carries over in to her approach in painting portraits—seeing the light as is falls across forms creating shapes that lend themselves to the flat paper surface patterns and graphic compositions.

At her studio she works both from life and from photographs—most often using a combination of the two. “I get much more direct emotional response working from life. Then with photo references I can enhance, exaggerate, and finish out details”.

Elizabeth Cameron has been a portrait painter for 20 years, originally specializing in animals. She credits much of her success to  the humble advantage of carrying a purse. Thus her talk is "Purse-uing Publicity".  She describes how she has done her own self promotion and will illustrate her talk with images of her work and tales of her life, struggles and successes as an artist.

Sister of Julia Cameron, who is the best selling author of The Artist's Way, "Libby" has much to say and Julia often mentions Libby's colorful stories in her books. Libby's purse got her an introduction to the Cassini family when she launched her career in Spain and has been a passport to more work ever since. Artists, animal lovers, or anyone curious about the life of an artist will gain inspiration, art career survival tips, as well as amusement from hearing her talk.

Ms. Cherry will demonstrate painting a “Snow Scene” in soft pastel on sanded paper. She will discuss the color temperature in a winter landscape. She will also demonstrate a second soft pastel pastel painting titled “Sun Therapy,” which is a backlit housecat on a colorful carpet. She will discuss working with strong lighting effects and keeping the focal point well established.

Cherry will be stressing good basic skills such as backgrounds, composition, eye-path, color temperature and harmony as well as tips and tricks for animals in general.

Mary Ann is a signature member of both the Pastel Society of America and the Women Artists of the West and is a co-founder of the Pastel Society of the Northern Rockies. She is a member of the Snake River Plein Air Painters in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and recently won People's Choice at their annual exhibition.

Mary Ann works in soft pastel, watercolor or oils. Cherry's studio is near the Snake River in Idaho, where wildlife and birds are abundant. Consequently, wildlife and animals are a favorite choice of subject. She is, however, comfortable with any subject matter and is a prolific painter.

She accepts commissions and is always available for workshops in oil, watercolor or pastel around the country. Visit her website at www.cherryart.biz for a workshop schedule.