Lana Portolano Art

10/29/2024

Pan pastel is perfect for uniting shadows in one swoop.

10/23/2024

Updated from yesterday's wip.

10/15/2024

On the easel now

09/24/2024

One of these paintings will be the FIRST ON-SITE MASTER STUDY I make at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC. I got one of 14 spots in their program and will be able to renew for painting in-museum on Wednesdays for as long as I like! I'll definitely be blogging about what I learn.

08/21/2024

Unleashing Zorn's palette 🎨 (cadmium red & yellow ochre, ivory black & lead white)

08/15/2024

Here are a few portraits I did while studying at The Rome Workshops this summer. What a great experience it was to paint in that city of great art with friends!

06/10/2024

Ten minutes to LIVE drawing on the Canine Humane Network page!

Welcome to our special raffle featuring a heartfelt oil painting by local artist Lana Portolano. This beautiful artwork captures the essence of Sarai, a courageous momma dog and her puppies who were at risk of euthanasia in a crowded shelter in West Virginia. Canine Humane Network (CHN) stepped in,....

05/20/2024

Mama Dog painting raffle raised $700 for shelter dogs in 14 hours so far!

05/20/2024

Here's a great opportunity to own a big, beautiful painting of a mama dog and puppies for the price of a raffle ticket that will help save many, many more dogs from high-kill shelters. Follow the link to find out more!

04/24/2024

Sometimes a spray-painted frame is all it takes to make a painting really pop. My study after John Singer Sargent's "Le Valle de Porto / Dinner Table at Night"

04/06/2024

Blue Tick Mama. This sweet hound dog came to Canine Humane Network with a big litter of newborns. She is a dark beauty and a brilliant mother. I wanted to capture the oil-slick black of her shiny coat and make a background that would echo the mystery of her mother's role. The puppy butts squirmed all over the canvas and were fun to sort out. This is the biggest oil painting I've done at 24x36 inches. Proceeds from its sale or auction (yet to be determined) will go to benefit Canine Humane Network in Howard County, Maryland .