Breaking Away

This painting is from 2005. It is an attempt to represent two states of mind, with an emphasis on the light from the open window. 

Oil on canvas, 24 x 36 inches, 2005

#93

Golden Morning

The background is taken from a Roman fresco, but I can't remember which one. Painting candlelight is very challenging. Georges de La Tour was perhaps the best.

Oil on linen panel, 24 x 18 inches, 2007
#92

Diana

Diana is the Roman goddess of the hunt, as well as the moon and birthing. An arrow is often her attribute. I found the one here at a local archery shop. I liked it's classic look. All of the architectural elements in the painting are dollhouse miniatures.

Oil on linen panel, 24 x 18 inches, 2007
#91

Jester

This painting is also somewhat older. The patterned tights are commonly seen on jesters and harlequins in Western art history at least since the Middle Ages. The parquet floor was enlarged from a dollhouse miniature.

Oil on linen panel, 24 x 18 inches, 2007
#90

Reflection

This is almost eight years old now. The Vermeer reference is obvious, but I was also interested in the glass of  water just out of reach of the seated figure, in relationship to the glass of red wine and the reach for the red roses.

Oil on linen, 36 x 34 inches (approx), 2005
#89

Girl with the Golden Ball

This composition is based on The Frog-Prince fairy tale. It is available through the David Klein Gallery in Birmingham, MI.

Oil on linen panel, 24 x 24 inches (approx), 2009
#88

Rosamond

Rosamond is the name of the princess in Sleeping Beauty. The rose terrace and other elements relate to the original story as told by the Brothers Grimm. This painting is available through the David Klein Gallery in Birmingham, MI.

Oil on linen panel, 24 x 36 inches (approx), 2009
#87

Tablut

Tablut was a game played on reindeer skin by the Sami people in Lapland. It is a variation of the ancient Germanic and Celtic board games known as Tafl. The one depicted in the painting was given to me by my son Gabriel, who is the player on the left. This painting is available through the David Klein Gallery in Birmingham, MI.

Oil on linen panel, 24 x 30 inches (approx), 2009
#86

Fr. Edward Prus

This is my portrait of Fr. Edward Prus, who enjoys senior clergy status at St. James parish in Ferndale, MI. It will be auctioned in April to benefit St. Raphael parish in Garden City, MI, where Fr. Prus was once pastor. I posted a study for this last July. Scroll down to see it. You can see all my portraits at my website, Charles Pompilius Portraits.

Oil on linen, 36 x 24 inches, 2013
#85

Brother and Sister

This is a recent double portrait. It is always a challenge to compose multiple figures, especially in a formal portrait. The turntable was a Christmas gift to the sister. The lighthouse is at Tawas State Park on Lake Huron, where the family vacations. You can see more of my portrait work at Charles Pompilius Portraits.

Oil on linen, 40 x 30 inches, 2013
#84

Merry Christmas

Lauri designs and prints our Christmas card every year. They always capture the spirit of the season in a unique and distinctive way. We want to wish everyone following this blog a joyful holiday season and a prosperous new year.

My New Portrait Website

I am happy to finally announce the publication of Charles Pompilius Portraits, a new website featuring my recent portrait work. The website was designed by my son, Gabriel. This portrait of Amber is on the homepage. It is oil on linen panel, 24 x 18 inches, from 2010.

March of Dimes Benefit Auctions

I've been donating flower paintings for the March of Dimes Signature Chefs benefit auctions throughout Michigan. All are about 6 x 8 inches.
#81

George

This is a posthumous portrait of one of my three older brothers. It is based upon a photo that was taken around 1967.

Oil on linen, 14 x 11 inches, 2012
#80

Portrait Study

This is a study for a life-size formal portrait of Fr. Edward Prus, a retired priest. I began it from life and decided to finish it from a photograph. I'm working on the larger portrait now.

Oil on canvas, 10 x 8 inches, 2012
#79

Mrs. Talan

Mrs. Talan is a grade school teacher, and her class presented her with this portrait as a gift. The painting in the background was done by the students in art class. They were learning about Jackson Pollack.

Oil on linen panel, 9.75 x 7.75 inches, 2012
#78

Flower Paintings

 

Four recent flower paintings, all 8 x 6 inches, oil on panel. Usually I do these as donations to local fundraisers, but sometimes they are commissioned.
#77

Barbara

A recent portrait of a friend.

Oil on linen panel, 9.75 x 7.75 inches, 2012
#76

David Lowrie

David is in the Department of Geology at Wayne State University in Detroit. He is also an avid naturalist and outdoorsman. He actually made the hat he is wearing from road killed skunks. When I first saw it I knew that I wanted to paint it. We finally got together and I think the result is a very unique portrait.

Oil on linen panel, 9.75 x 7.75 inches, 2012
#75

Lauri Palmer

This painting is a personal family portrait of my wife Lauri. Although she has posed many times in the past, this is the first formal portrait I have done of her.

Oil on linen, 40 x 30 inches, 2012
#74

Frank Edwards, Chairman of the Board, NYLUBE

This is a portrait of Frank Edwards, whose great grandfather, Carl Gaither, founded NYLUBE in the 1930s, an international elevator parts manufacturing company. The business began in Detroit's Guardian Building, which is represented in the painting by a scale model. The Guardian, a striking example of Art Deco architecture, is registered as a U.S. Historic Landmark. Frank and his wife Ann are distinguished art collectors. Frank stands next to a Mission Style chair, and behind him is a painting by Brad Durham, a contemporary American landscape painter.

Oil on linen, 40 x 30 inches, 2011
#73