Image Behind the Mirror was painted using the technique, Sfumato, the same technique
Leonardo DaVinci used to paint the Mona Lisa. The technique consists of a blond-like
underpainting and an over painting that consists 30 to 40+ breath like thin layers of both
color and white glazes. Scumbling is used when needed. No more than five oil colors were
used for this painting; three primary colors [ red, blue, and yellow ], brown, and white.
IMAGE BEHIND THE MIRROR
THE MONA LISA PAINTING
A group of French researchers recently studied the Mona Lisa painting created by Leonardo DaVinci to analyze the masters use of ultra-thin layers of paint, called glazes, a technique that gives his works of art a dreamy quality.
Scientists from the centre of Research and Restoration of the Museums of France found that Leonardo used up to 30 layers of paint.
Read Secrets of the Mona Lisa Painting Story
TESTIMONIALS - "Grandpa's Eyes"
The painting is great! The man's life experience has been shown via the eye depiction... It is masterpiece.
Zifen Qain
When I first met Alan I found him warm, polite and very approachable. A humble man by nature Alan is a Painter Artist in the true sense of the word. He paints as much as he can in a small studio over looking the Willamette River in Portland Oregon while listening to music.
I would visit him-have lunch discuss his work plus examine his technique which he freely shared. When discussing anything with Alan he always listens and wants to talk more about you than his work. When I first saw one of Alan's paintings it flat just took my breath away!
His vision-color and use of line and rhythm with oil layered to me resembled the masters I had seen in museums. Alan Bell is not only a fine artist painter friendly and approachable he has a ton of passion for life, music his work and especially for others. Alan's new portrait painting " Grandpa's eyes " is a true masterpiece!
Bill Alexander
This is really quite stunning Alan. There's a lot going on under the surface, I have this feeling I would love to meet this person, see what kind of stories he could tell about his life. And who is the child in the background, a relative, a neighbor kid??? There is an interesting interplay between the directness of Grandpa's gaze, a little bit of humor showing in the eyes, and the kid kind of spaced out in the background, obviously comfortable and in their own world.
Justine Avera
I believe that Alan Merris Bell is the finest portrait artist in Portland Oregon. Other portrait painters pale in comparison to the fine portraits coming from Alan's Portland Portrait studio. In addition, I feel that Grandpa's Eyes is a masterpiece!
Paula Solmonson
Alan, I think this painting is brilliant, Congrats, WOW!!! Speechless!
Ignat Ignatov
It's got soul Alan! Just like you! It is also my favorite so far! Congrats on a masterful work of art!
Barry Mack
Alan in my opinion is the most talented portrait artist in Oregon. When I visited Alan's portrait studio ( over looks the Portland cityscape ) I found Alan easy to talk to. His artwork is beautiful to look at. The painting Grandpa's Eyes was so real that I thought the painting was alive. I highly recommend Alan for your portrait commission.
Larry Hall
Wow! That’s beautiful!
Kathyrn Siebert
This painting is killing me .. What a classic.. It tells a story.
Will Alexander
WOW!!! What an amazing, GREAT PAINTING! At first I thought it was a copy of a photograph! I cannot believe how good you are, his eyes are wonderful, the intricacy of the hat - amazing, his beard growth and muscle/bones shown in the arm- fantastic.
Kathy Bell
WOW!! I love this painting! The detail that you have put into it is incredible. Not only his eyes tell a story, but his entire face. Even his hands.
Brenda Kirk
Holy s#@*! I thought this was just the photo! I did a double take and realized it was your painting.
Jason Bell
Alan, This is an amazing rendering! I love the way you controlled the focal depth.
Martin Eichinger
The painting is startlingly real and very beautiful.
Margret Short
My immediate reaction was oh my god! Alan that painting is just incredible.
Jim Phillips
Seeing " Grandpa's Eyes " in Alan Bell's studio in Portland, Oregon was better then the image that I saw on his website. The portrait appeared to be alive. It took my breath away!
Michael Ranalol
MEMBERSHIP TESTIMONIALS
Dear Alan,
Thank you for applying for membership into the International Guild of Realism. From what we can see from the images you submitted via email and those we saw on your website, your work is of very high quality with regards to craftsmanship, composition and creativity. We especially enjoyed viewing your paintings entitled "Solitude," "Image Behind the Mirror" and "Passage."
Congratulations! Our membership committee was quite impressed with your artwork and résumé. You certainly represent the style of artwork we seek to promote through museum exhibitions, gallery shows, and marketing articles.
Best regards,
Ernestine Guita
Membership Committee International Guild of Realism www.realismguild.com
Dear Alan,
Thank you for applying for membership into the American Society of Traditional Artists. From what we can see from the images you submitted, your work shows a very high quality with regards to craftsmanship, composition and creativity. We especially enjoyed viewing your painting entitled "Image Behind the Mirror."
Congratulations! Our membership committee was quite impressed with your artwork and resume. You certainly represent the style of artwork we seek to promote through museum exhibitions, and marketing articles. Your color work is outstanding. We encourage our members to visit and peruse our website regularly, to keep informed about the latest news. Please check our website "Welcome new members" your name and the above image will be added to our website. If you have any questions about ASTA, don’t hesitate to contact us through email or regular mail. We enjoy discussing Traditional Realism and welcome your thoughts and comments.
Once again, congratulations on being the newest juried member of the American Society of Traditional Artists!
Best Regards,
Anna Kenyon Co-Founder ASTA
The Art Renewal Center is pleased to welcome Alan Merris Bell as our newest ARC Living Artist. ARC has pulled together an Energetic and Brilliantly talented base of artists. As true masters in the visual arts, they are training and inspiring the next generation of artists, scholars and teachers, to protect, preserve and perpetuate techniques, human subject matter for our culture, our society and posterity. https://www.artrenewal.org/pages/livingartists.php