Chris Saper's Blog

Just released DVD: Painting oil Portraits in Cool Light

2011-12-03T11:28:00.000-08:00

Happy to announce the second DVD release - filmed last summer:)
Preview DVD

I am so delighted to be represented by Abend Gallery Fine Art

2011-11-16T18:26:00.000-08:00

I am so thrilled to announce my affiliation with Abend Gallery Fine Art. Abend is representing my still life and floral work. I've worked with the owner Chris for many years - gorgeous frames, and extraordinary works.

Gallery relationships are new to me, and I am so happy to associate with a business I trust.

Check in with Abend to view available paintings :)

NEW DVD How to Paint Skin Tones

2011-11-15T19:08:00.000-08:00

Just released video- on how to mix a variety of skin tones from life

This is one I filmed last summer for artistsnetwork.tv , and includes a breadth of models with diverse skin tones. If I've linked correctly you can preview it here

Portrait Unveiling, Dr Mel Cohen

2011-11-14T18:01:00.000-08:00

On November 10, my posthumous portrait of Dr Melvin L Cohen, pediatric nephrologist and remembered as the "Father of Phoenix Children's Hospital", was unveiled at the hospital's Cohen Conference Center. I have known and loved Mel and his wife Mickey for 28 years, and in the process of creating the portrait came to know their children Tammie, Ellen, Jan, and Joe.

The portrait is a composite of many aspects of Dr Cohen's life, created as a collaboration between family members and myself. It includes Mel's favorite paisley tie, the flag pin and the pearl tie tack he wore every day. He holds his medical school yearbook, the Hippocratean from 1954; one of the things I learned about Mel during the process was that he was an artist himself, creating the woodcut and pen and ink drawings that pepper the yearbook pages. On the shelf behind him are a clock given to him by Phoenix Children's Hospital is recognition of his extraordinary service, and a small replica of one of the remote controlled airplanes that he built and flew. The chair in which Dr Cohen sits was given to him by the medical education program he founded, and is handmade of three different types of wood.

The portrait will hang in the main lobby of the new Phoenix Children's Hospital.
Below a pic of Mickey and me.

Above,with Barbara Raines, my dear friend, and overall person extraordinaire...we were two of the early administrators hired to orchestrate the opening of Phoenix Children's Hospital in 1983. And no, we didn't coordinate our outfits:)

Unveiling of Jazz for Peace Founder Rick DellaRatta at Private VIP Concert in NYC

2011-10-30T18:16:00.000-07:00

Jazz great Rick DellaRatta attended a surprise unveiling of his portrait, Saturday night, October 22 at Joe Franklin's Club in Midtown Manhattan, during Jazz for Peace's fund-raising event. I was able to work the JFP staff to get fabulous photo reference - thanks to Deb and John!

The portrait project was spearheaded by Burton Danet, PhD, co- founder of A Better Community for All - ABC4All an organization whose mission is to support charitable causes worldwide, within the context of individual communities.

Since the first Jazz for Peace concert, shortly after 9-11, founder Rick DellaRatta has promoted jazz and philanthropy worldwide through more that 800 live performances.

Here's a couple of pics...

Just delivered

2011-10-16T19:56:00.000-07:00

This is Sam, an amazing and gracious young man. No surprise- his family is lovely:)

Scottsdale Artists' School, Beaux Arts donation

2011-09-22T11:32:00.000-07:00

Scottsdale Artists' School's annual fine arts Beaux Arts Auction will be held November 13th. Among many other instructors, I am pleased to donate a painting to be auctioned for the benefit of the school.

"Plum Blossoms & Limes", oil on panel, 10" x 8"

Flowers, flowers, everywhere....

2011-09-12T15:16:00.000-07:00

Here are few more pieces: "American Rhapsody", 16 x 20

"Rust & Roses", 18 x 16

"English Tea Rose" 8 x 10

"Peachy" 18 x 14

visit Fine Art America for purchase - both originals and giclees are available!

AZ Best Fest Preview

2011-09-06T14:19:00.000-07:00

I’m honored to have been selected as one of the AZ Best Fest’s Top 100 Artists, and will exhibit in the first of three centennial events, on Prescott Courthouse Square, September 16-18, 2011. In addition to showing my commission portrait work, I’ll be debuting a series of floral and still life work.

Here are a few of the newest pieces, a series working with roses and hydrangea:)

2011 Paperback Portfolio

2011-08-31T14:04:00.000-07:00

Just up - new paperback portfolio

Back from Cincinnati - with 2 new DVDs in process

2011-07-31T16:53:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago I spent several days with the video folks at artistsnetwork.tv to film two new instructional DVDs: one on mixing different skin tones, the other on painting the portrait in cool light, both done with live sittings. Both will be available this coming fall.

Thanks to my wonderful models, editor Jennifer Lepore and videographer Ric and crew. you all made everything so comfortable.

Portrait Demo, Friday June 24, 4pm, Prescott Mountain Artists' Guild

2011-06-19T09:47:00.000-07:00

Please join me for a live demo at Prescott,AZ's beautiful Mountain Artists' Guild Gallery next Friday, followed by wine and cheese kicking off the Fourth Friday Art Walk.

Admission is free, and the vent is open to the public - hope to see you there!

Summer Travel Itinerary

2011-06-13T12:11:00.000-07:00

If you know of potential clients in these areas, please put us in touch, since I'll already be traveling to the following locations:

To Chicago, June 28-29
To Cincinnati/Lexington, July 10-15
To Lexington, August 15-18
To Newark/NYC, August 20

I'll post a note if there are any changes or additions:)

Portrait Society of America Donated Painting

2011-05-02T15:40:00.000-07:00

The Portrait Society of America held its annual Art of the Portrait event last weekend in Atlanta - one of the most popular events is the Six-by-Nine event, where about 200 artists are invited to paint a small work on a 6" x 9" canvas - of any subject. Paintings are sold at a fixed price, and proceeds go toward the charitable educational activities of the PSA. Attendees are given a fixed time-frame to "bid" on the painting of their choice - but the paintings are only signed only on the back, so it's a surprise to find out who painted the canvas you bought!

Here's my little painting, Jordyce, lovely child and beautiful model. As I was unable to attend this year's conference, I don't know who took her home:)

Body World, Artists' Sketch Night

2011-05-02T15:29:00.000-07:00

Last week I attended one of three artists-only private sketch nights at the Body Worlds exhibit at the Arizona Science Center. What an extraordinary opportunity to study and draw internal anatomy! The event ran from 6pm - 9:30 - I'd estimate that there were about 20 artists in attendance, in a completely quiet, soft-lit atmosphere.

The last artists' night for this exhibit is May 12 - I hope that portrait and figurative artists valley-wide will turn out for this event!The exhibit travels to other US cities as well as abroad, so you can check the link so see if's coming to your area.

Time- limited Price Promotion through June 1, 2011

2011-04-04T16:12:00.000-07:00

After spending the past six months writing nearly 30,000 words of text and creating more than 300 images for my upcoming book, "Mastering Realistic Skin Tones in Portraiture", I can't wait to get back to my first love - creating original oil portraits for families and executives nationwide.

Savings represent about 20% for each subject painted in oil, generally about $1500 per portrait.

I'll be taking only six commissions at the special rate - actually five as of last week after I received a new contract.

The price promotion for commissioned oil portraits is one I particularly designed to encourage both new and repeat clients to move forward with portraits they've been considering for some time. For many families, the tradition may be to paint the child at a preschool age, for others, graduating from college. Sometimes families will want each child to be painted at the same age, so their timing is somewhat narrow.

The savings will also allow many who have been considering a portrait at a certain composition or price point portrait to select a larger, more complex painting.

Workshop: For Love or Money: Portraiture & the Pursuit of Excellence

2011-04-02T14:24:00.000-07:00

Understanding the concepts of pricing, marketing, and presenting artwork effectively can be overwhelming for many fine artists. I'll be bringing my background in strategic planning, marketing and client relations to the art classroom this month, teaching the course, "For Love or Money:Portraiture and the Pursuit of Excellence". April 11-14 at the Scottsdale Artists' School . Hope to see you there!

Phoenix Children's Hospital Unveils Portrait of Founding President Dan Cloud, MD

2011-02-27T08:49:00.000-08:00

On February 24, the new Phoenix Children's Hospital unveiled my portrait of Daniel T Cloud, MD, its founding President and CEO. In my former life as a hospital administrator, I was hired by Dan in May of 1983 to coordinate the establishment and opening in September, 1983 of Arizona's first independent children's hospital.

The portrait project was spearheaded by key founding medical staff members, including Drs Mel Cohen, Herb Winograd, and Rich Reznick.

I worked for Dan for the next 7 years and he remained my close and valued friend until his death last summer.

The hospital officially opened the doors to the new $538M facility on January 31, 2011.

Photo courtesy of Suzanne Starr Photography, Phoenix, AZ. Thanks to Kay Eskridge Photography in Phoenix, AZ for her assistance in providing photo reference material for the painting.

The short video is here on Facebook . I'll add it to the blog when I can.

Chris Saper and Phoenix Children's Hospital Unveil Portrait of Founding President from Chris Saper on Vimeo.