Richard Schmid's finished portrait of B. Eric Rhoads, painted in Putney, Vermont in August 2007.
Richard Schmid does not accept portrait commissions, therefore I was doubly thrilled when he invited me to Vermont so he could paint my portrait. Laurie and I drove about five hours from our summer location in the Adirondacks and arrived just in time for dinner with Richard and Nancy (Guzik). The following morning I reported in at 8 and was surprized to see that not only Richard would be painting me, his entire Putney Painter's group would also paint me that day.
The atmosphere at the Vermont Art Association barn was laid back, Richard was his typical jovial self, and we set out on an adventure I'll not soon forget. With breaks every half hour or so, a bit of chatter among painters, a few jokes and groaners, a lunch break amid the smell of linceed oil and suddenly the day was over. Suddenly there were about twelve new portraits.
The Putney Painters at work painting Rhoads. Putney Painters at work painting Rhoads.
Photo of Richard Scmid (R)talking with Eric Rhoads following the portrait session in Vermont.
The Putney Painters hold their portraits of Rhoads.
Nancy Guzik with Eric Rhoads at the Putney Painters barn in Vermont.
Portrait of Rhoads by Nancy Guzik.
Putney Painter Casey shows his portrait.
I would have given a lot to be there. Good paintings from great artists.
Posted by: Thorgrimur Andri Einarsson | February 01, 2013 at 04:51 PM