This week we have a round up of our favorite recent figurative classical oil paintings. This group of artists shares a high degree of technical accomplishment in rendering the human form, while still leaving the brushstrokes room to expressively shine. Hopefully you find their portrayal of the figure in oils as inspiring as we do!

This lovely piece by artist Karen Whitworth really captures the sense of soft wintery light beautifully, and her mysterious woman has an ethereal glow that is simply stunning. Its always exciting to see what Whitworth will bring us next! In case you’re inspired by her work to sharpen your own painting skills, she offers workshops around the region.

Oil painter Carla Paine‘s effortless and subtle brushwork adds to the delightful complexity of this mysterious painting. Paine lives and paints on a small farm located on a peninsula just north of Olympia, Washington. Her studio, an old farmhouse from the early 1900s, along with the expansive landscape offered by the property, allow her fantastic opportunities for landscaping, while her proximity to the city enables detailed work from live models. She trained at the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Florence Academy of Art in Italy.

We love this quirky and slightly edgy painting by artist Crystal Barbre. Barbre’s work is a beautiful balance of classical painting techniques with controversial and contemporary themes. She studied painting at the Gage Academy of Art with a strong foundation in classical technique, Crystal creates images that challenge, push and exploit our culture’s sexual and social norms. Rapidly gaining a devout fan base Crystal’s work has been featured in scores of exhibitions and magazines.

Laurie Lee Brom‘s work is always a delight to have in the studio – her delicate paintings perfectly pair her expert rendering with elements drawn from folklore and fantasy, giving them a haunted and Pre-Raphaelite feel. Laurie Lee grew up in the historical town of Charleston, South Carolina, the local ghost stories and folk tales of the swampy Low County, and rich Gullah culture stirring her imagination. She spent untold hours pursuing pixies and tree frogs in the hollow logs and Pluff Mud of her own backyard. Today she still pursues magical fairy folk along with all manner of curious ghosts and odd characters in her enchanting portraits and paintings.

Last but certainly not least we have a lovely new figure study by one of our constant favorites Chris Sheridan. Sheridan continues to push and perfect his painting craft, and his handling of the human form is confident and beautiful. We’re excited to see what new works are born from these studies down the road.

That’s it for this feature on “The Figure in Oils”!

Have a great and art-filled weekend!