Programs and Seminars: The Versatile James Tennison Visits Atlanta

By Ruby Mason

For the November PSA meeting program, where attendance is free for members and guests, Tennison gave a presentation of his work and answered questions from a standing-room only audience. The next day, he conducted a sold-out, full-day seminar featuring a live portrait demonstration, a critique session, and a Q&A discussion about the business side of portraiture.

Following are some photos from Tennison’s Tuesday presentation and Wednesday portrait demonstration, along with corresponding spectator notes.

Step-by-step, Tennison began his portrait demo by drawing with a brush in yellow oxide, and quickly established the darks and lights. In a short amount of time, he captured the model’s essence in a lively portrait. (Photos by Holly Henson)

Tennison began his portrait demonstration by blocking in the large shapes with yellow oxide. His usual process is to draw with yellow oxide on an untoned canvas. Moving on, he painted transparent tones between lights and darks. Describing how he connects transitions (dark to light) Tennison mixes a medium paint color. He advised, “you get in trouble when you start painting what you know versus what you see.”

1. 1. It’s all about structure. Look three times, think twice, and paint once.
  2. Painting in the background will give you something to compare your subject to.
  3. When dealing with highlights, try not to overdo. Don’t get “highlight happy,” and make sure your lights are not too light.

Tennison is typically not an alla prima painter. When in the studio he will work about three to four hours on a piece, then put it aside for another day. He suggests cleaning your palette often emphasizing that much of the painting process takes place on the palette so you want to keep it clean and fresh.

After completing the portrait demonstration, James critiqued the work of some of the attending artists, and then discussed the business aspect of painting portraits. He answered questions on everything from “what is a typical day for him as a full- time portrait artist,” to “what is the procedure for a commissioned portrait?”

During short breaks, Tennison answered questions about the tools, paints, and products he uses. Leaving us with many enlightening thoughts, he said, “To paint well is a struggle and takes a tremendous amount of concentration. People forget how fast you did something but they remember how well it is done.” “I try to paint how wonderful nature is. I don’t want to patronize it, I want to approach it with reverence.”

*Tennison is renowned for both his works in oil (left), and in watercolor (right).*

Tennison traveled to Atlanta from his new home on Whidbey Island, Washington. A graduate of the ArtCenter College of Design in California, he started his career as an illustrator. He has taught and guest lectured at several colleges and universities in Texas, and has given many private painting workshops. A versatile artist, Tennison doesn’t limit his work to portraits. His landscapes and figurative work in watercolor and oil are exhibited in prestigious galleries throughout the United States. To explore more of the art of the versatile James Tennison, visit jamestennison.com.