Gallery Walk: The Blessings Afar Off by Elspeth Young

the story in this painting

the creation of this painting

The easel at which Elspeth works was designed and made by Al in 1992.  Since then, it has been modified several times.  The most recent major addition was the framework at which Elspeth is working in the foregoing photograph

For years, I have enjoyed painting Nigerians, Haitians, Ethiopians, African Americans, and a host of other races besides—Mestizo, Native American, Filipino, Oriental, Latino.  The list goes on.  To my eye, there is no single magical key to the color scheme of the races.  The only difference in the interracial skin-tone color wheel is where the highlight, mid-tone, and shadow dials express each individual.  For anyone interested in detail as well as a how-to overview, I recently published an article that sets forth the basics of my palette and techniques in meeting the demands involved not in painting the races, but capturing the life-stories written in every face, regardless of the ink color in which they appear — "Some Picture Painted" in The Storybook Home Journal , Vol. 19 No. 2 (Hearth article)

more about Studios techniques and practices

Original artworks produced by the Artists of Al Young Studios are part of themed collections because the Studios is organized after the pattern of the Renaissance workshops of the old masters.  The Artists take the long view of their work as being a lifetime journey toward mastery of artistic expression through selected techniques, reaching as far back as the 16th century.  Artists work as peers in an intensely creative community in which each artist pursues his or her own work as part of the group's philosophy.

Subject-matter research; fabrication and acquisition of such things as costuming, props, accessories; use of models; photography; framing and other in-house Studios services support the work of the Artists.  Artworks are also produced within a strong tradition of curatorial documentation.

The work of the Studios has been ongoing since 1981. The following links present some of the projects we've done and a few of the things we've invented and learned.

Behind the scenes
Creating, equipping, and operating a studio
Technical stuff
Art lessons

Tags: The Blessings Afar Off, 2020, Exhibits