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Skip's Portraits
oil and pencil portraits from photographs and attachments
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Welcome to my collection of original artwork, portraits, and photographs. I am a house painter by trade, and a part-time portrait artist who enjoys doing oil portraits and pencil sketches from photos of pets, children, and adults. To see samples of my portraits, and a small collection of photographs, including photos of the New York City skyline, please click on the links below. If you would like to contact me for a portrait, I can be reached by email at skip@skipsportraits.com, or you can send me a text message with or without a photo to (201) 406-3933. I hope you enjoy the site, and come back again soon. I will be adding new images as often as possible. (Last updated, 6-28-08) Skip Van Lenten
oil portraits
To see a larger image, please click on the title below each portrait.
I started doing oil portraits in 1983. At that time, I was out of work and living at home with my parents. Christmas was coming, but I couldn't afford gifts for my sisters. An old friend of mine, who had gone on to become a successful commercial artist, had given me a box of oil paints and a stack of canvas boards years ago before he moved to Florida. I had several photos of my sister's dogs, and picked out two that I thought would make good portraits. The result was the portraits of Dusty and Molly that appear as samples on my portraits page. I had never done an oil painting before, and it was the first time I realized how satisfying portrait work can be.
pencil portraits
I enjoy working with pencils as much as I do paints. It's a lot easier to carry around a pad and pencil than a lot of paints, and pencil portraits are fun to do, plus they make an inexpensive and unique gift.
photographs
I began taking pictures as far back as I can remember. My father taught me how to use a 4x5 Speed Graphic camera (the same kind depicted as the logo of the New York Daily News), and built a darkroom in the basement where we developed our own black and whites. In the years since then, I have taken thousands of photos. My favorite subjects include the New York City skyline, flowers, and colorful outdoor scenes, and sometimes, I'm lucky enough to find myself in the right spot at the right time. The photo above was taken at the Jersey shore, August, 2008, and captured one of those moments. Click on the title for a larger view.
site links:
Oil Portraits
Pencil Portraits
Photographs
Homee-mail:
skip@skipsportraits.com
phone or text:(201) 406-3933
Skip's other sites:
www.skipvanlenten.com
Skip has written a number of stories about growing up in New jersey in the 50's, most of which have been published in the Our Town newspaper. You can find a handful of them at skipvanlenten.com.www.skipspainting.com
If you live in the area of Bergen County, NJ, and need a painter, you can reach Skip by e-mail. or by calling (201) 406-3933. Member: Bergen County Mastercraftsman Paint and Paper Association. He specializes in interior painting and paper hanging, with over 25 years of experience.
www.worldwidejam.com
Another writing project of sorts, going back to the days when we listened to music on 45's and LP's, and looking forward to what might lie ahead for musicians in the future.www.betterphoto.com
Betterphoto.com is an interesting site for anyone who likes photography. It is a series of galleries from different photographers, with a lot of information and tips, and an opportunity to comment on the photos. This link will take you to Skip's gallery, which features some of his newer photos. To return to Skip's Portraits, please click the "Back" button on your browser.
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