Deep Gaze - sold

 

oil on canvas, 16"x12"

In this painting a handsome dark haired man is viewed at a window, partially obscured by a sheer curtain. He is bathed in natural light, standing out from the shadowy interior. I love evoking a person in deep in thought, perhaps contemplating his life. There is a moody, subdued tone to this painting. The brushstrokes are liquid, distinct and loose.

Copyright © Pat Kelley. All rights reserved. Copyright does not transfer with the purchase of an original painting, print or other merchandise.

Lost in Thought - sold

Oil on canvas, 16"x12"

In this painting a handsome nude man stretches with his hands clasped behind his head. Light pours from a window to define his lean body which stands out from the shadowy interior. He gazes outside, his expression distant and enigmatic. The darkness of the background has a deep green tint. This is a classic figure study yet steeped in mood. 

Copyright © Pat Kelley. All rights reserved. Copyright does not transfer with the purchase of an original painting, print or other merchandise.

Woman with Red Wine - sold

Oil on canvas, 16"x12"

This is an original oil painting with a moody, vintage feel of a beautiful woman holding a glass of wine at a dimly lit bar.  Shrouded in smoke and mystery, she recalls a long ago era. I wanted to evoke a film noir mood and create a world-weary yet seductive femme fatale...particularly beguiling after sunset.

This painting is part of a series of portraits of women of the 1920's and 1930's. From flappers to starlets, I am very inspired by this glamorous and classic era. 

Copyright © Pat Kelley. All rights reserved. 

Woman with Blue and Gold - sold

Oil on canvas, 16"x12"

In this painting a dark haired woman in a satin gown of pale celery green sits on a gilt chair in a room of deep blue. There is a luxurious yet understated elegance in this portrait. I was inspired by James McNeil Whistler's Peacock room (one of my favorite things here in D.C.) and also his beautiful Nocturnes which are indicated by the tonalist painting behind the figure. She glows within the dark hues, her expression intense yet ambiguous. I enjoy suggesting a story and evoking a timeless atmosphere. 

Copyright © Pat Kelley. All rights reserved. 

Woman in a Garden - sold

Oil on canvas, 16"x12"

This painting features a woman in long white gown in a rose garden. Inspired by the Pre-Raphaelites, I love evocative figures within beautiful landscapes that celebrate the feminine and suggest a story. This is an impressionistic, richly textured painting with thick impasto strokes in the flowing gown and the flowers. Romantic and mysterious, she's in a world of her own.

I've always loved gardens and flower gardening, especially old-fashioned roses with their soft, abundant petals. I think their nostalgic appearance amplifies the timeless feeling I seek and I enjoyed combining my interests in this painting.

Buy on Etsy

Woman Walking on a Beach

Oil on canvas 16"x12"

In this painting a beautiful woman walks on a beach at sunset in a long white dress, her hair and dress floating in the seashore breeze. I wanted to capture the warm, soft colors of the "golden hour" with the pink tones of the sky, sand and sea permeating throughout the painting. I enjoy evoking dreamy scenes that I would like to step into such as this one. I have always been inspired by the seaside imagery of Joaquin Sorolla and Frank Benson. Both frequently featured women in white dresses in coastal light. 

I had fun using a combination of vigorous impasto strokes to convey the movement of wind in fabric and very soft edges throughout indicating the saturated, glowing light of sunset. This made for a richly textured and painting of a beautiful figure within an atmospheric landscape. 

Buy on Etsy

Woman by the Sea

Oil on canvas, 16"x12"

In this painting a beautiful woman sits in a rocky cove in a white dress, her hair and dress whipping in the wind, the sea sparkling behind her. I wanted to capture the feeling of a windy day at the seashore and the brilliant sun glinting off the water. I have always been inspired by the seaside imagery of Joaquin Sorolla and Frank Benson. Both frequently featured women in white dresses in bright coastal light. I love the many subtle shades of blues, pinks and yellows that can be found in the shadows and reflected light upon white. 

Lately I've been interested in the integration of the figure with an outside environment. I had fun using vigorous impasto strokes to convey the dazzling play of light and the movement of wind in fabric and hair. This made for a richly textured and lively painting combining a beautiful figure with an atmospheric landscape. I especially enjoyed evoking the feeling of warm salt-infused breezes and the joy of summer while painting in the cold, dark days of winter.

Buy on Etsy

Man by a Window - sold

Oil on canvas, 16"x12"

There's something poetic about this man, a certain Byronesque air. Perhaps it's the haunting intensity of his eyes or the wavy, flowing hair. I like the moodiness of the interior in this painting, there's a hint of the ecclesiastic in the high, dark paneling. He looks as if he has just stepped from the shadowy recesses into the light of the window. I'm happy to have combined a high level of technique with spontaneous expression. The lively, open brushwork effectively conveys the movement of light over the contours of his muscular body while evoking pliant flesh. This is one of my larger male nudes and the scale allowed a strong feeling of the model in his environment and a vivid sense of life.

Buy on Etsy