Pat Kelley Paintings

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Girl with Finger Waves - sold

Oil on canvas, 12"x9"

This is a portrait of a pale, blue eyed girl with finger waves in her golden hair. This portrait study ended up being oddly timeless, both retro and contemporary at the same time. The vivid, cherubic face and swan like neck have a Baroque, mannerist feel while her style is delicately minimal with a 1920's vibe. I like the bold strokes of the loosely painted lavender blue of the background.

Thursday, August 8, 2019

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.

Saturday, July 13, 2019

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.

Monday, June 17, 2019

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.

Sunday, May 26, 2019

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.

Friday, December 7, 2018

Morning Mood - sold

Oil on Canvas, 16"x12"

In this painting a beautiful woman sips a cup of coffee after what looks like a rough night. I kept it very loose and had fun with the brushstrokes and a palette knife, creating lively textures and thick impasto. The background is abstracted and expressionistic with moody, turbulent shades of blue and gray contrasting with warm skin tones. I like the active surface quality and depth of this one.

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

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.