Realistic Illustration & Portraiture
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Capturing a likeness.
Artist Elizabeth Whelan creates portraits in oils. She is intent on capturing a moment in time as well as a likeness, finding that expression and sense of personality that brings her subject to life. She is a contemporary realist painter, and for her portraits this translates into accurate detail imbued with her own style of realism which is strengthened by a desire to preserve a feel for our times for future generations.
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Telling a story.
As an illustrator, Elizabeth Whelan enjoys the opportunity to use her skills to help tell a story, be it for a book or magazine, a business or product, or a private commission. She works mainly in gouache and also digitally, creating print and web-ready pieces for designers, corporations and individuals.
- All
- Portrait
- Oil
- Gouache
- Travel
- Nautical
- Agriculture
- Tools
- Oils
- Default
- Title
- Date
- Random
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22" x 28" oil on canvas, this painting of Martha's Vineyard jewelry designer Sarah K. Young in her studio invites the viewer to watch her at work.
More about portraitsPortrait of Sarah
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22" x 22" watercolour on Canson paper, this detail from a building at Nijo-jo in Kyoto, Japan was loosely painted in heavily pigmented watercolour.
More about illustrationNijō Castle 二条城
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12" x 12" gouache on Canson paper, a wall in a Vineyard Haven boatshop was an enticing display of ovals and sawdust, perfect for this matte gouache illustration.
More about illustrationBoat Shop Interior
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12" x 8" gouache illustration, painted on a bright sunlit day whilst driving the coastline of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.
More about illustrationCape Breton Sunflowers
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A gouache illustration of five vintage blocks hanging on a bar in a museum boat shop, along with other items labeled for conservation.
More about illustrationFive Blocks
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3' x3', oil on canvas, a portrait of Dale McClure, president of the Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Society with an antique tractor, at the Ag Hall in West Tisbury.
More about portraitsDale with Tractor
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This 2-color t-shirt design showing boat shop tools was created for a martime museum in Maryland, and when printed on the blue shirts created an attractive design without high print costs.
More about illustrationT-shirt design
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9" x 12" oils on canvas, this small painting depicts two close friends, one of whom had passed away at the time the painting was commissioned. This portrait will hopefully serve as a reminder of happier times.
More about portraitsPortrait of Friendship
On the easel
I recently started work on this oil painting The Vicar Heads Home, a portrait of sorts of a favorite local character who we've named for his white collar. He's a ring necked pheasant and is the only one we've seen in the vicinity.
At this point rough color has been placed around the painting, and attention is being paid to contrast.
To see the progress over time with this piece, please visit and bookmark my blog.
Contact Details
Elizabeth R. Whelan
PO Box 166
Cuttyhunk, Massachusetts 02713
U.S.A.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Models needed
Are you in the Cuttyhunk or Martha's Vineyard area?
Elizabeth is seeking clothed models for various paintings -- all shapes, sizes, ages, ethnicity and experience welcome!
Please contact her at the address to the left for more information.
Recommended reading
Learn about design, marketing and branding, freelancing and more by reading these books. Visit the Recommended Reading section of her blog to get Elizabeth's thoughts on each selection.