Expressive Mark-Making

This painting is ready to begin the long process of layering and glazing in oils. If you follow me on Patreon, you can watch the live videos of the underpainting process.

On the Easel: The Hart and the Hind Concept

The Hart and the Hind Concept Color SketchThis concept sketch is the starting point for an oil painting on birch panel. In my previous post, I discussed the preliminary process for designing the composition and prepping the panel for the painting.In this painting I am exploring the inter-connectedness of man and nature, the tranquility found … Continue reading On the Easel: The Hart and the Hind Concept →

On the Easel: The Hart and the Hind

This line drawing has been transferred to a birch panel with multiple layers of tissue paper applied to create texture. I am repurposing an old painting for this concept that had a textural background featuring text. Because I have completely restructured the narrative of my work, I did not want the words to read as … Continue reading On the Easel: The Hart and the Hind →

Commissioning an original #unconventionalwomanportrait is a collaborative process

Schedule your consultation today: birdlady@francesbyrd.art

Light Up the Darkness Pt. 1

This narrative painting is a self-portrait expressing determination and the fierce spirit that refuses to be broken.

Thistle Queen

Thistle Queen This self-portrait was inspired by years of criticism that I am aggressive and confrontational. Though I am hardly without faults, I find that people are most likely to label me this way when I am being passionate about a belief or project, or when I am standing up for myself. Taking up space … Continue reading Thistle Queen →

On the Easel: Light Up the Darkness and The Hart and The Hind

I'm hoping to finish both paintings by the end of the week for an art prize submission, although that is a very ambitious goal. I have a long list of portraits I want to complete for my show in December that need to be set up and started.

New Illustrations

I had the opportunity to submit illustrations for a magazine feature recently. I will post a follow up if any of them are accepted.

Light Up the Darkness Concept

In an exclusive preview post for my Patreon subscribers, I discussed this new concept and shared the color sketches from my art journal.

2022 Updates

In my portrait series, I am celebrating the unique beauty of real women with real accomplishments. I am attempting to tell their stories in a way that helps the viewer empathize with their hardships and celebrate their achievements. In my celebration of the wonderful diversity of these women, I am attempting to shift the public narrative from a sterile, commercial idea of beauty toward a realistic aesthetic that celebrates the whole woman.