Bono, A Commissioned Portrait

Bono Painting by Borbay

Allow me to introduce my latest portrait: the man, the legend, Bono. This collage painting was commissioned by Lynn Serra, and contains many personal details within the canvas.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xyx6pw_bono-a-borbay-commissioned-portrait_creation

Here is the entire process in just over a minute, soundtrack courtesy of Johnny Moore (check him out). Enjoy, and stick around for some photographic updates…

Bono Commissioned Portrait Painting Process by Borbay

Laying out the headlines prior to pasting them down for approval… this is part of the commission process… once we commit, those headlines are there.

Bono Commissioned Portrait Painting Process by Borbay

Firm, thanks to a healthy dose of gel medium… minor modifications based on feedback from the initial iteration, but pretty much on the money.

Bono Louis Vuitton Ad

This Bono Louis Vuitton Ad provided the color palette inspiration for the painting.

Bono Commissioned Portrait Painting Process by Borbay

Getting the under painting down, cutting into the picture with the shadows first.

Bono Commissioned Portrait Painting Process by Borbay

Unbleached white, complementing the natural tonality of the newsprint negative space.

Bono Commissioned Portrait Painting Process by Borbay

Here come the secondary tones, beginning to take shape.

Bono Commissioned Portrait Painting Process by Borbay

Bringing warmth to Bono’s face… that’s probably something I never thought I’d say in my life.

Bono Commissioned Portrait Painting Process by Borbay

Beginning to get balance… the glasses are two different reproductions of Gustav Klimt’s “Kiss” — a symbolic inclusion for this picture.

Bono Commissioned Portrait Painting Process by Borbay

Bono and Brad Pitt like to hang out, at least they do in my studio.

Bono Commissioned Portrait Painting Process by Borbay

Getting in there with secondary and tertiary tones in the face… combing the hair, working on the jacket…

Bono Commissioned Portrait Painting Process by Borbay

Oh so close, at this stage, it’s about grabbing that luscious deep cadmium red, making a few tweaks, and applying with a fine, fine brush for a textural result.

Bono Painting by Borbay

Boom! Bono. A big thank you to Lynn Serra for this commission, here’s hoping you enjoy living with Bono as much as I enjoyed painting him.

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