Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Rembrandt Study

I think copying the work of the Masters is a learning experience.  I enjoyed painting this portrait of Rembrandt.  He studied himself very closely in the mirror for most of his life...painting about 100 self-portraits, which explains how there's so many facial changes with his portraits.  I imagine it had to be very challenging.  Some people say that he did it because he always had a model on hand!!  He always painted with dark shadows that I always liked.  I would have painted this in oils, like he did, but I still don't have the nerve... so I stuck to the comfort of my pastels!!!

101 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thank you so much THERESA for stopping by to comment on my "Rembrandt".. I appreciate it!!!

      Delete
  2. I'm sure he did it in part because he always would have a model handy and also because unlike most models, he could easily assume just the expression that he most desired to paint!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How true, SHIRLEY. I would love to do the same thing someday...however, I don't think I'll post it.. LOL Thank you for your comment!!

      Delete

  3. Dear Hilda,your great work in pastel has all the charm of the ancient Masters! Bravo!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much RITA for your lovely comment!! I enjoyed painting him ... maybe I'll try another one of his portraits! Enjoy the day!

      Delete
  4. Hola Hilda: Un retrato de Rembrandt realizado con gran maestría y detalles que lo hacen muy real. Felicitaciones y un gran abrazo!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tu eres muy amable, MERCEDES... Lo agradezco tu palabras!!! un abrazo!

      Delete
  5. Well done, I don't think I've seen you do a self portrait. Have you?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NO!! You wouldn't want to see a self-portrait of me!! LOL.... Actually, I never did one but would like to try! I've always worked with a photo so it would be a challenge!! thank you for stopping by to comment, DOUG !

      Delete
  6. Beautiful work Hilda. I am back on (B) only in a small way. Missed you all so much. :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so happy to hear from you again, DOREEN!!! I have missed you and your amazing work! I will be stopping over to see if you posted any of your work!!! Enjoy the rest of the day!

      Delete
  7. Nice work in either pastel or oils Hilda, and it is such good practice- I applaud your choice of this great master!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you MARY for such a nice comment! I agree...I think copying the work of the Masters does help us see things in a different way. I love Rembrandt ...Sargent's work is definitely my next favorite!!! Have a wonderful day!

      Delete
  8. Too good Hilda, so full of character and depth,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're SO kind PADMAJA!! Thank you for stopping by to comment!! I appreciate it!
      Have a good day.

      Delete
  9. Lots of strength in this portrait Hilda. I can't do a sef portrait - I've tried a couple of time in graphite but hubby always says it looks nothing like me. Maybe its too difficult to see ourselves as others do?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you SUE for taking the time out to comment...you're so nice and I appreciate it!!
      I've never tried but I definitely will... I would like to take the challenge!! of course, I would have loved to have done it ...hmmm... a few years back!!? lol

      Delete
  10. This is so true and I should try myself... Your painting is absolutely fabulous!! :0)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you SANDRA for such a nice comment!
      I think we should all do the self-portrait... always a good practice... Have a wonderful day...

      Delete
  11. Formidable, chère Hilda!
    C'est un très bel hommage à ce grand peintre.
    Félicitations.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you SO much OLIVIER for stopping by to comment... You're so kind!!! He was definitely an amazing painter! Enjoy your day!

      Delete
  12. What character you've imbued in his face, Hilda! I love his expression and I found myself thinking that with the exception of his clothes, he could be anyone of today. My first thought was a plumber...But then I do go on and sometimes even have an imagination...!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did love his expression as well, SHERRY! He had so many self-portraits...someday I'll do another! or maybe change to one of Sargent's beautiful work... Hope all is good with you! Enjoy the day!!!

      Delete
  13. You are so right about learning from the Masters! You have done a beautiful job with Rembrandt, Hilda!!!
    Kathryn XX

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much KATHRYN!! You're so kind...glad you like it!

      Delete
  14. You have painted your Rembrandt with great skill Hilda! Awesome work!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you SO much CELIA for stopping by and for leaving me such a generous comment!
      I appreciate it!! Have a nice Evening...

      Delete
  15. Una copia excelente, Hilda, con la dificultad de reproducir con pastel los brillos del óleo. Tienes un gran dominio de esta técnica.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Muchisimas gracias, ANTONIO!!! tu eres muy amable y lo agradezco!! un abrazo!!

      Delete
  16. I wish I could do pastels like this , really outstanding painting !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much JANE! this is how I feel when I see your beautiful work with oils and watercolor! you are so talented!

      Delete
  17. Having just seen several Rembrandts up close and personal at the National Gallery - I am amazed at the purity and skill of your copy! Such wonderful work, Hilda!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you know that you just made my day, SUSAN. I'm so glad you liked this portrait.
      Thank you for stopping by!

      Delete
  18. Very nice portrait,I have not looked closely at the original as of yet -but I am sure you would have done justice to it.
    Have you ever thought of doing a self portrait? You should try it sometimes:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have thought about it...so maybe someday soon...it scares me...it should have been done a "few" years ago! lol....I think the original was a bit darker than I painted it..
      enjoy this beautiful day, ARTI...glad you stopped by to comment...

      Delete
  19. Great portrait Hilda, you are a Master with the pastels. Hugs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're always SO kind, TITO! thank you so much for stopping by to comment...Have a wonderful day...

      Delete
  20. Let me be the 37th person to tell you this is marvelous Hilda. You can't hear it enough in this profession. I haven't dared to go here yet. You did capture that look that the master caught beautifully. You have lots of talent friend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much LINDA for such a nice comment! Your self-portraits are amazing! I still haven't done that yet...I'm glad you like my Rembrandt...Enjoy the rest of the day!!!

      Delete
  21. Hi Hilda! You're so very at ease with your pastel and it looks so easy. But I know, by experiencing it now that pastel is a marvelous craft that needs hours and hours of practice. Beautiful job with this Master . Happy weekend Hilda.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you so much HELEN for your very generous comment...you're very kind...I feel very comfortable painting with pastels...and
      need a lot of practice with any other medium.
      Enjoy the day!!!

      Delete
  22. Puedes estar orgullosa de tu reproduccion de Rembrand, te ha quedado fantástica- Un abrazo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tu eres muy amable, TINA...Muchisimas gracias por tu visita y tu comentario!!!
      un abrazo...

      Delete
  23. Heel knap gedaan je haalt meteen Rembrant eruit lieve groetjes Danielle

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you so much DANIELLE for your visit and for your lovely comment. I appreciate it!!

      Delete
  24. We have had the wonderful experience of seeing one of his originals at West Gallery in DC, can spend days in the National Gallery. Anyway last Thanksgiving someone was copying and got to watch for a bit. Using oils of course, just don't have the knack for oils, but the brushwork and shadows are exceptional. You got caught the expression

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you NELVIA for such a nice comment ! Someday, I would love to visit the National Gallery in Washington!! I hear its wonderful!

      Delete
  25. Lovely job on this, Hilda!! You did a masterful job with your pastels. Your shadows and highlights came out great!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you JOAN!!! You're always so kind and I really appreciate your comment! Glad you liked Rembrandt... Enjoy the rest of the Evening...!

      Delete
  26. what a good idea....to do a Rembrandt! I have been drawing copies of Sargents and I think you are right...it is such valuable practice! You did a beautiful job...you should be very happy with this. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much CELESTE! I've always enjoyed your drawings of Sargent!! I have one that I would love to do soon! I'm glad you liked this painting!

      Delete
  27. Hola Hilda. gran trabajo en este retrato. Enhorabuena. Feliz fin de semana.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Muchisimas gracias, OLGA por tu visita y tu comentario muy amable!!! un abrazo!!

      Delete
  28. Congrats for giving it a shot. I would not even dare. You have done a good job.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you PRABAL for visiting and for your lovely comment! It was fun trying to copy the Master! Enjoy the rest of the Evening!!

      Delete
  29. Fantastic job Hilda. Did not know you are using oils now and I am looking forward to seeing some of your work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much CAROL!! This painting is in pastels but I would love to attempt it in oils someday!! Glad you liked this!!!

      Delete
  30. Bonjour ma chère Hilda,
    Je suis sous le charme littéralement et je vous fais une grande révérence ! Ce portrait au pastel est prodigieux. Rembrandt de là-haut doit être fier de vous vous et de votre talent.
    Vous vous êtes attaquée à quelque chose de fort !
    Gros bisous

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Such a generous comment, MARTINE!! Thank you so much and I'm glad you liked this portrait!! enjoy the rest of the Evening!!
      hugs....

      Delete
  31. Yo diría que sí tienes la maestría de pintar este retrato. Te felicito porque es un bellísimo retrato. Fantástico!!
    Un fuerte abrazo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tu eres muy generoso con tu comentario, JOSH! Lo agradezco!!! un abrazo fuerte!!!

      Delete
  32. Great job Hilda, it is so very difficult. And yes I heard the same about him, that he always had a model on hand. How difficult that was for him, Wonderful work Hilda.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much JOAN! I'm very happy that you liked this portrait.! I enjoyed painting Rembrandt... and would love the challenge of doing another one again. Have a wonderful Evening....

      Delete
  33. Hilda, you painted Rembrandt! Your portraiture skills are very refined.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're very kind, SHARON.! Glad you stopped by to comment!!!!

      Delete
  34. This portrait painting is so impressive, Hilda - beautifully done!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you CONNIE for stopping by and for leaving me such a nice comment.. I really appreciate it!!

      Delete
  35. Es muy bueno. Yo también voy a probar a hacerme un autoretrato, pero sin arrugas y con el lado bueno. Esto último es broma.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tu eres muy gracioso, JULIAN!!! Muchisimas gracias por un comentario muy generoso!!! Lo agradezco!!! Un abrazo!!!

      Delete
  36. I agree with you, Hilda - copying a master work is such a good lesson, and you have done an amazing job with this!!!! Many years ago I decided to copy Vermeer's 'Girl with the Pearl Earring'...poor Vermeer probably rolled in his grave a few times!!! LOL!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're so funny, CLAIRE! I'm sure Vermeer's Girl with the Pearl Earring came out beautiful.! I love that painting as well....thank you for stopping by to comment!!!

      Delete
  37. Wonderful job copying a master. I painted a Sargent once and had such fun. You should try it in oils, you would do wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much BARBARA for stopping by to comment.. Copying the masters is really such a learning experience and would love to try it again in oils....I'm glad you liked it!!

      Delete
  38. Te ha quedado estupendo amiga.Me encanta el pastel, quedan muy realista los tonos. Besitosss.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Estoy muy contenta que ha gustado este retrato, CARMEN!! Lo agradezco tu visita y tu comentario muy amable!!!! Un abrazo!!!!

      Delete
  39. I should imagine pastels are far more difficult to copy any oil painting with - never mind a Rembrandt. As soon as I saw it I recognized it as his. You are SOooooo very good, Hilda. What an eye you have for the slight nuances that make the whole.
    Big pat on the back from your admiring fan - moi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're so sweet, Julie and you just made my day with that very generous comment. When you copy from the masters...it's a bit like cheating since the shadows are there already and the perfect colors are there as well....but I enjoyed painting this very much and glad you liked it!!!

      Delete
  40. i can relate to the "safety" of pastels, but really, i agree with Julie, copying an oil with them is quite an accomplishment and beautifully done! oils are nothing more than pastels applied with a brush. well maybe not but i'm quite sure you will handle them with as much skill as you do the pastels.

    and i really am inspired to finally begin to learn from copying the masters, so thank you my friend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You'll do so well copying the masters, being a master yourself, SUZANNE!!! But I know you'll enjoy doing it and I really look forward to seeing it ! Enjoy this brisk but beautiful day!

      Delete
  41. and thank you!!! i'm so glad you agreed with me on those snaps! i'm still blown away by them!!

    ReplyDelete
  42. The photo says it all!!! Take care, my friend!!!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Great portrait of Rembrandt Hilda! I recognized it immediately. I've never tried anything like that before, but it must be a huge learning experience to try to copy the brush stokes and colours of a master....and very daunting. You've done a great job!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you SO much CLAIRE for such a nice comment! I used different pastel "portrait" colors to get that perfect blend for the skin tones... I think its a good learning experience for all of us.......Enjoy the rest of the day!!!!

      Delete
  44. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Copying from the masters is a great idea, Hilda. The best way to learn is to learn from the best!
    Excellent painting!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Ciao Hilda,
    la tua maestria mi colpisce sempre! Sai rendere immagini che parlano ed emozionano!
    Scusa sempre la mia incostanza nei commenti, ma seguo sempre il tuo lavoro e ti ringrazio molto per i graditissimi commenti tuoi!
    Ciao, ciao, abbracci, Floriana

    ReplyDelete
  47. I'm so glad you stopped over, FLORIANA!! Your comment always means a lot to me! Glad you liked this painting....have a wonderful day!!!! hugs!!!

    ReplyDelete
  48. What a super job you did with this piece, Hilda! I can't imagine how difficult this must have been with pastel! Copying the masters is a tried and true method for improving our skills. You aced this one!

    ReplyDelete
  49. Thank you Rosemary for such a nice comment. I enjoyed copying Rembrandt's style. I always liked the way he painted portraits...I also admired Sargents paintings.... glad you stopped by..

    ReplyDelete
  50. Hi, Hilda, your figures and portraits fascinate me so much. Especially, face expressions capture viewers eyes. Regarding Rembrandt, Rembrandt's eyes talk to me most from both his original and yours. Your hard and beautiful work always amazes me. They are also very heart warming. Please keep up wonderful work!!!
    Best wishes, Sadami

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you so much SADAMI! You're very kind..I did enjoy painting him..have a wonderful day and I look forward to your next watercolor sketches....

      Delete
  51. I love the colors Rembrandt used in his paintings and your rendering is wonderful Hilda! You don't need to switch to oils because your beautiful pastel portraits already look as rich as oils in my opinion. Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you so much LISA for stopping by and for your very kind words. I do love my pastels and I have done an oil portrait but could never post it...actually, I threw it away.. really bad!!! LOL Again, I appreciate your nice words...Enjoy the rest of the day!!!

      Delete
  52. thank you JUDY...you just made my day!!! hugs...

    ReplyDelete
  53. Hilda,You did such a great job on this! I agree that copying old masters is a great way to learn. I've copied Cezanne, Da Vinci, and more. My favourite is Da Vinci's John the Baptist painting. It's such a mysterious piece.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you so much CAROLE for your visit... I appreciate it!!! You're so good with that paint brush in your hands and so precise I can only imagine how good your copy was!!! Enjoy this beautiful day!

      Delete
  54. This is wonderful, Hilda, and I agree with you about copying the masters being of value. It really forces one to look at tiny details, brushstrokes, value, edges, etc. A real learning opportunity. Rembrandt was always one of my favorites. Go for the oil one day. I know you'll enjoy it!

    ReplyDelete
  55. I still don't have the confidence painting in oils.. but I will definitely try it even if I don't post it for awhile.. LOL
    I guess I feel so comfortable with my pastels....l'm glad you like this one CAROL! Have a wonderful day.

    ReplyDelete