Richard Halstead School of Portrait and Figure Art

Richard Halstead’s Article “Drawing: The Intimate Art” Will be Appearing in the September Issue of Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine

The following paragraph is a preview of a new essay that I intend to have published in the not too distant future. This one is about drawing: the most essential element in most works of visual art. However, drawing is typically undervalued aesthetically and monetarily, often thought of as the ‘poor cousin’ of painting. This essay, which includes a very brief history of drawing from renaissance to the present, gives a sense of the multiple dimensions of drawings and the drawing experience. Here is an excerpt from that essay:

“Though drawing attained a new appreciation in the eighteenth century it continued, throughout those times and to this day, to be essentially a tool for study. As with avid naturalists, drawers are typically absorbed with the intricate nuances found through their studies. It is love of life from the root up. It is a poetic expression that comes from a sense that the world is too vast to ever be known in total, and a belief that its heart can best be known while we are on our knees studying the individual, the lichen at the root of a tree, the incomparable grace of a model’s sinewy thigh, the feeling of a bird’s movements, or the compelling mystery of a boney but softly animated human face. Drawing then is very different from painting, which is often thought of as the pinnacle of visual art and generally takes in a whole scene, giving a sense of completeness or of a grand scheme.”

Look for the article in the upcoming issue of Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine: https://fineartconnoisseur.com

Image credit: Portrait of Dr. Harry Vanderstappen, former department head, Art History, University of Chicago; by Richard Halstead

Has anyone seen this painting? I painted it maybe 8 years ago and it disappeared from my studio a few years afterwards. Hoping someone can help me find it. Reward offered.

In the curent issue of International Artist, October - November of 2019, is a new article by Richard Halstead: Richness of Color in Oil Painting. Be sure to pick up a copy! https://www.internationalartist.com/

The article will be posted on Richard's blog on the website, so keep an eye on www.halsteadportraits.com

"The Musicality of John Singer Sargent" by Richard Halstead is now available in Fine Art Connoisseur magazine (July/August 2014). Don't miss your chance to own a hard copy of Richard's insights accompanied by gorgeous reproductions of three of Sargent's works.

Issue: July-August 2014 Table of Contents The Daring of Dor By Eric M Zafran From Famous to Forgotten Reconsidering Eugene Speicher By Valerie Ann Leeds Searching for Harold Rabinovitz By Arthur D Hittner Lockwood de Forests Wall When India Came to Indianapolis By Amy G

http://halsteadportraits.com/portraitschool/the-phenomenon-of-john-singer-sargents-paintings/

Another outstanding blog entry from Richard awaits curious readers!

A Fresh Way to Appreciate the Phenomenon of John Singer Sargent's Paintings - Richard Halstead -... Considering how many books and articles have been devoted to John Singer Sargent’s life and paintings, there is surprisingly little written that attempts to explain the phenomenon of his paintings. Even artists who emulate his style generally see them as … Continue reading →

"A camera these days can document our leaders in a much more efficient manner, but a painting speaks more of the unbroken connection between the past, the present and the future," he said. "And that's my business: the tradition of making the strongest possible statement about one individual's place in history and creating a painting that might be distinctly of our times, but co-exists with all of the others in representing this history."
—Richard Halstead from a speech he gave at the unveiling ceremony of Governor Daniels' portrait, Oct. 16, 2012
http://www.wsbt.com/news/wsbt-daniels-portrait-shows-indiana-governor-at-work-20121016,0,6177478.story

Daniels portrait shows Indiana governor at work First lady, Cheri Daniels, left, and Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman remove the covering, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012, during the official unveiling of the official portrait painting of governor Mitch Daniels in the south atrium of the State House in Indianapolis. The governor was joined by his wife Cheri and Lt...

Hear a brief interview with Richard about his portrait painting process.
http://www.wibc.com/news/Story.aspx?ID=1791511

Meet The Man Behind Governor Daniels' Portrait (photo courtesy of Richard Halstead)The man commissioned to paint the official portrait of Governor Mitch Daniels says it's a long, complicated

We all watched and marveled at Richard's portrait painting skills as week after week Governor Mitch Daniels became more and more of a presence in the studio. Now we can see the unveiling and learn how the painting was received.
http://indianapublicmedia.org/news/daniels-portrait-unveiled-statehouse-38131/

News - Indiana Public Media | Daniels’ Portrait Unveiled At Statehouse The portrait shows the governor standing in his office, without a suit coat, leaning against a chair and holding a pen in his hand.

By comparison with the Eakins portrait of Dr. Gross, the realism that Beal proudly extols holds litt By comparison with the Eakins portrait of Dr. Gross, the realism that Beal proudly extols holds little interest Posted on August 19, 2012 by Richard Portrait of Dr. Samuel D. Gross, Thomas Eakins In the April 1999 issue of American Artist magazine the contemporary realist painter ...

http://www.indystar.com/article/20120107/NEWS05/301070004/Portraits-Indiana-governors-paint-picture-state-leadership-?odyssey=mod_sectionstories

Portraits of Indiana governors paint a picture of state leadership The selection of an Illinois-based artist to paint Gov. Mitch Daniels' official portrait continues a tradition that stretches back more than 140 years.