Luminous - sold

oil on canvas, 10"x8"

This is a portrait of a handsome man in strong light. I wanted to evoke the glow of skin bathed in light in this spontaneous study. I kept the brushwork broken and sketchy in this one. It still ended up looking quite realistic but with much of the loose initial brush strokes remaining. I love the soft edges and glowing light I accomplished in this one. 

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

 

A Distant Memory - sold

Oil on canvas, 12"x9"

This portrait is a study of a handsome dark haired man painted in a restrained, subtle palette. I wanted to evoke a soft haze as though viewing the subject through the distance of time.

The background was created by layering transparent glazes which created an effect reminiscent of weathered and faded denim with a very glossy surface. It's an unusual, textured surface without being too dominant. 

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.

Mesmerize - sold

Oil on canvas, 12"x9"

This is a portrait of a handsome man with dark hair and pale blue eyes in strong chiaroscuro lighting. I am pleased with the expressive looseness I achieved in the brushstrokes while capturing details like the dazzling light in the eye. It's a very electric, lifelike portrait that makes you wonder exactly what is on his mind.

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

Man with Cobalt Blue - sold

Oil on canvas, 12"x9"

This is a painting of a beautiful man with a distant, dreamy gaze. I gave him a background of deep cobalt blue to complement the warm golden skin tones and add to the dreamlike feeling. I am pleased with the expressive impasto brushstrokes while capturing beautiful features like his dazzling pale blue eyes. It's an energetic, textured painting.

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

Man in Darkness - sold

Oil on canvas, 12"x9"

In this painting a handsome man stands in darkness, his pale skin glowing. He looks a bit shadowy and sinister. But is he truly dark? Or is he the light within the darkness? 

I wanted to focus on mood and atmosphere so I kept the colors and values within a limited range. I am pleased with the subtlety of the shadows  which simultaneously accentuate and obscure his sharp features and lean body. There is texture and visible brushwork, especially in the background. I'm not sure if the images sufficiently convey the mood and depth of this painting is as darker paintings are difficult to photograph. This is a small but evocative painting with a powerful presence.

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

Can't Look Away - sold

Oil on canvas, 12"x9"

This is a painting of a man leaning with his head back against a wall looking relaxed, perhaps a little exhausted.  I am pleased with the expressive looseness of the brushstrokes while capturing beautiful features like his mesmerizing blue eyes. It's a very tactile, lifelike portrait. 

Copyright © Pat Kelley. All rights reserved. 

Man by the Sea - sold

Oil on canvas, 12"x9"

This portrait of a young man is perhaps the most classic I've done thus far. I was thinking a lot about Renaissance art while painting him. Although he is a contemporary man there is a timeless feeling to this painting. I placed my subject outdoors before a deep blue sea with a moody sky, a distant brightness at the horizon. I like how the blues of the water and sky set off his warm skin. I'm happy to have achieved a thoughtfulness and subtlety of form in this beautiful face.

Copyright © Pat Kelley. All rights reserved. 

Shadowy

Charcoal and white pastel on paper, 12"x9"

This drawing is a charcoal portrait study of a man in moody lighting. The deep shadows place a strong emphasis on the sculptural qualities of the face, especially the sensual mouth. I kept the drawing touch soft and suggestive even while it has very bold, dark tones. I like the dramatic and mysterious look of this one.

In between painting larger and more complex oil paintings I'm finding monochromatic drawings on paper to be a refreshing change. It's relaxing to be able to focus on value and form in a simpler way even while something of a challenge to be without the handy tools of warm/cool hues to create depth.

Copyright © Pat Kelley. All rights reserved. 

Study of a Young Man - sold

Oil on canvas 12"x9"

This portrait of a young man is perhaps the most alive and tactile of the male portrait studies I've done thus far. I'm pleased to have captured something rather elusive...a thoughtful and complex quality in this beautiful face. This one is a little larger than my usual head studies and there's a strong feeling of immediacy and an electric presence.

I focused on loose brushwork, keeping the edges soft and I used impasto in the highlights and background. I'm especially happy with the expressive look of his eyes and mouth and the painterly texture in his hair. 

Buy on Etsy

Searching - sold

Graphite on paper, 14"x11"

This is a portrait study of a beautiful young man with a distant gaze. This is a larger drawing for a more evocative character study, executed in a combination of graphite powder and pencils for a moody feeling. I used a heavyweight Bristol board that could stand up to a lot of blending.

Buy on Etsy

Cesar at the Window - sold

Oil on canvas, 10"x8"

This painting is a classic figure painting of a nude man standing at a window. His musculature is sharply defined by natural light. There is a quality of yearning to this figure as he gazes out at the world beyond the window and a great deal of atmosphere in the interior around him. 

This small painting has wonderful texture and impasto highlights with impressionistic glimpses of light and greenery in the window. While this is essentially a figure study I am always interested in conveying a sense of the human being and a mood, not just a body.

Buy on Etsy

Male Sleeping Figure Study - sold

Oil on canvas, 9"x12"

This painting is a study of a man sleeping, a theme I have painted several times. This is the most painterly version I have done so far. I took the colors and brushwork in a more experimental direction, scraping down the surface a few times and using unusual colors, multiple layers of glazes and scumbling. It created interesting textures that I like and an impressionist effect. I played with the edges to create the visual effect of dissolving the figure against the light.

Copyright © Pat Kelley. All rights reserved. 

Standing Male Nude Figure Study - sold

Oil on canvas, 12"x9"

This is a classic standing nude figure study of an exotically handsome man with a powerful physique. I like creating nudes that are also unique portraits of distinct individuals. I pushed the contrast between the cool colors of the background and the warm skin tones and the crimson drape in the lower corner to create a vibrant mood. I kept the edges crisp to make the figure pop against the background. There is vigorous brushwork throughout, especially in the shimmering impasto of the background and the fabric. The effect is that of a fine traditional academic figure study with a fresh, modern energy.

Buy on Etsy

Man Sleeping in Antique Bed - sold

Oil on canvas 14"x18"

This painting is a classic male nude of a sleeping figure in an antique bed. The model is angled across the bed with the white sheets framed by the dark tones of the wooden bed and room interior. There is a vigorous, painterly quality to the brushwork while maintaining a high degree of realism. It's a contemporary work but the interior details and classical technique rich with impasto imbues it with a vintage feel. This is a sleeping figure but something about this figure, perhaps the bold foreshortening and the strong diagonal of the figure conveys a restless energy.

Copyright © Pat Kelley. All rights reserved. 

Portrait of a Young Man - sold

Oil on canvas 10"x8"

One reason I love creating portraits is that I get to study faces as I paint them. I could look at this face all day. I think what I find so compelling is the strength and sculpted beauty of his features in combination with his open, sensitive gaze. 

I used a combination of varied edges to convey depth and a pale grayish blue background to complement the warm tones of his skin. 

Reclining Male Nude - sold

Oil on canvas, 9"x12"

This painting is a study of a handsome man lounging on a sofa, enjoying a nap. I love painting sleeping figures and this one was especially fun and challenging because the hand is central. Hands are actually rather difficult to paint well and they can be quite expressive. Whenever a hand is part of a composition I have to take care that it doesn't become a portrait of the hand because I love painting them. I kept the brushwork vigorous and sketchy to contrast with the languor of the figure.



Also available on Etsy

Study of a Young Man - sold

Oil on canvas, 10"x8"

This is a portrait study of a beautiful dark haired young man with dramatic features and an intense expression. I focused on loose brushwork, keeping the edges soft and I used impasto in the highlights. His eyes are a riveting deep blue and I'm pleased that his mouth looks especially tactile while being quite painterly. 

Young Man With Blue Eyes - sold

Oil on Canvas, 10"x8"

This is a portrait study of a beautiful dark haired man with pale skin and vivid blue eyes. He's got a timeless, arresting look about him. I played up the high contrast in his coloring and captured the shimmering quality of the skin highlights. I kept the edges sharp and surrounded him with the color of cool air, the palest yellow-tinged turquoise. The effect is intensely lifelike and rather mesmerizing.

As one viewer said, "I know he's never gonna talk but I'm still listening...he's got my attention".