Every artist has their process. Since I was taught by the late-great Harvey Dinnerstein at the National Academy School of Fine Arts for almost 4 years, my process is steeped in tradition and innovations. I am also a huge admirer of the 19^th Century French Neo-Classicist painter, Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, and he also stated that we should paint the ensemble. Make it as if the painting was done in one breath.

“ The chief consideration for a good painter is to think out the whole of his picture, to have it in his head as a whole… so that he may then execute it with warmth and as if the entire thing were done at the same time. “

~ Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres

In conclusion, we must establish the Forrest before we contemplate the individual tree; In portraiture, we must consider the shape of the skull and the way that light reacts to the larger forms before we go into the details of the features, such as the mouth or the eyes.

So join me in this rare opportunity to learn what I learned as a Merit Scholarship Student at The National Academy of Design, School of Fine Arts in NYC.