Featured Artist Suellen McCrary

Artist Suellen McCrary’s portraits go beyond her subject’s likeness, capturing their very being in oils. Learn more about this artist and her work by visiting her website.

 

 

I am a figurative painter working primarily in oils. Fascinated with the face and figure, I create paintings that I hope transcend the outward appearance and capture the inside essence of a person.

 

 

Many of my paintings are commissioned, however I also make paintings that I hope resonate with collectors universally. This often asks for a narrative, which I try to convey by both the image and title.

 

 

There is a universality of the figure and face that we all identify with – our experience and projection of our hopes and feelings.

 

 

My process for commissioned work starts with a series of photos – often around three hundred (thank you digital photography!) and editing these down to a few that I feel will best lend themselves to a great painting which my client will review and choose from.

 

 

My intention is always to create a portrait that is not only a likeness of my subject but also a painting that stands on its own as a work of art.

 

 

I’ll do a charcoal sketch which works as a warm up to get the subject’s likeness, and to give my client a preview of how the final work will look to size and an opportunity to critique the likeness as needed.

 

 

The next step is a small painted study for composition and color. Once the sketch and study are approved by my client, I will work from these and the series of photos for the final full-size painting which is usually oil on linen panel.

 

 

For noncommissioned work, my process varies. Generally, I’ll start with a vision and concept of what I want the painting to be about.

 

 

Working from life, a sketch or a series of my photos (or a combination), I will often start with a thumbnail sketch for composition with notes about color and mood.

 

 

Depending on the complexity of the composition, I may do a small study before moving on to the final painting. Just as often though I will go straight to the full-size panel or canvas and let the painting tell me what it needs as I work. This for me is the joy of creating!

 

 

My wish as an artist is to create paintings that evoke strong feelings in the viewer. I want to create work that takes my breath away; hopefully it will do the same with the viewer.

 

Artist Suellen McCrary invites you to follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

 

Want to stay current on cutting edge business articles from Artsy Shark, plus artist features, and an invitation to the next Call for Artists? Subscribe to our twice-monthly Updates, and get a free e-book on Where to Sell Art Online right now!