Diana
 

Haven't been able to draw or paint much lately but I've finally finished this one. It's of one of my students - when I first saw those big, fantastic Picasso eyes, I knew I just had to do her portrait.

I've stared at this one way too long. There are a lot of little things that bug me about it, but it's only my second one, so I'm ok with it.

Pastel on Art Spectrum paper, approx. 18" X 23".

Wow, I feel as if I could reach out and touch her. Beautiful!

Very nice David. I like the eyes as well.
Jerome

Wow David! I love the simple graceful presence you have imparted in her. She is captivating and wonderful.

Gosh, I should be meeting you in a week and a half! I look forward to that.

Garth

Yet another wow! You are a natural. Please tell me, (even if you have to lie) that you are struggling badly and not pulling these off as easy as Lisa. I'm so jealous, it's not even funny.

I've never felt a sense of hate and respect for someone before. ;)

Seriously, it's incredible, I wish you worked more often!

Really , really lovely, there is such a feeling of tranquility about her, and a lovely glow to her skin. :thumbsup:

Very beautiful David. Those transitions are velvety smooth.

Simply stunning!
 

David, this is absolutely gorgeous, solid and hauntingly real.

I'm wondering, did you work from life?

WOW AGAIN. Just beautiful. Your handling of this medium is amazing.

Lovely, David. See you next week.

Cynthia, thanks so much. I look forward to meeting you next week!

Garth P., I know. Those eyes are something else. Thanks.

Garth H. Thanks for the feedback. It will be great to finally meet you and see your painting in person.

Well Jimmie, I don't know if Lisa struggles with hers or if they are easy, but I do know that I don't finish mine in two hours (!!! - I wish I did!). Getting it down, all the bits rendered is not too difficult. I do make a lot of missteps because I'm still learning this medium, but I don't wig out. I know if I see a problem, I can correct it. The last stage of refinement on this one was tricky because I sensed something was (is) not quite right with it, but I didn't (don't) quite know what - I'm pretty sure my skin tones (color, chroma?) is off. So yeah, that's frustrating and has been a struggle. But I just have to do a lot more of these and figure out what I'm doing color-wise. I'm still quite a novice when it comes to color - skin tones in particular.

And if these few pastels that I've done are worth anything it's because you keep raising the daggone bar!! (you see I have this tiny little competitive streak in me! :) ).

Carolyn, thank you so much. I'm glad you used the word "tranquillity." My sister saw this one and "Yulia" and the words she used were "melancholy" and "depressing." I just told her that it's my niche, that I think there is a market out there for depressing portraits, since not everyone is happy. She suggested I put my brochures in psychiatrist's offices, halfway houses, homeless shelters....

What would I do without you guys!

Mike, thanks! Will we be seeing you next week in Va.?

Terri, thanks a bunch. No, I worked from a photo I took. Good pose, nice look, but the color was not great (I like to blame my color issues on my little digital camera!).

Mary, I really do like this medium. I know that I'm working in a very tight, controlled manner (it's my m.o.) - that may not be the best, but as I learn, I'll find new and better ways.

Chris! Thanks and can't wait to meet you!

David,,
This is a portrait that does reach out to the viewer. It is very compelling. And I like the simplicity of the colors, too. Congratulations on a very nice painting!

pat

Speed issues
 

Gee, my computer crashes (yes, really) for a short period of time and look what goes up! You both, regardless of speed, have far outdone me. Far outdone. Did you hear me? David, this is stunningly beautiful. Your cool palette is perfect. I don't even know what to say. I have no business commenting on such great work (though that obviously hasn't stopped me). Your subject is beautiful. I'm thinking I need to spend A LOT more time on my pastels. Speed is definitely not my friend.

Did I mention I love this piece?

David, I can't wait to see what you can do when you get more comfortable with this medium. She is lovely, and you have captured her "Picasso" eyes. Personally I see nothing wrong with your controlled, detailed style. You have an uncanny ability to capture the mood also, not photographic in the least. I like just looking at them.

Jean

There's nothing wrong with speed as long as everything works, but there's also nothing wrong with taking your time for the same reason. I personally don't want to go quick on my work, maybe the commissions, not on my own stuff.

Lisa, I hope you did'nt take it the wrong way about you only taking two hours. Just the opposite, bless you for only taking two hours, but making it look like it took you much longer. I simply enjoy taking my time, I'm in a business of rushing; I can tattoo a portrait in less than two hours. I just love creating, so I feel like I'm cheating myself doing something quick. Keep doing what you're doing, your speed must contribute to the freshness of the pieces. :)

Like David mentioned about the inexperience, it's the extra thinking I can do without. Struggling with color ends up taking so much of my time. I can't speak for David, but I would guess that half of the time I take on a pastel is stress.

David, you make it look pretty easy, and your closeups don't look caked on which is why I assumed you may be doing these quickly and somewhat stress-free. Some people don't think I'm stressing, but there are many layers in my work, and those layers are due to trial and error, not creativity.

Anyhoo, David, more work, please.

Lisa, first of all, thank you so much for your comments - coming from a great pastellist like you, it means a lot! Jimmie is right. If you can do work - like "Lots 'o' Locks" - of that caliber - in two hours!!... don't knock it. What a gift! I still don't believe it (you are either lying, or exaggerating, or you are a freak of nature). So, really, speed is your friend. Or maybe, what you are really saying is that you are "on" speed when you do these pieces....hmmm....ok., now I'm starting to get it. :cool:

Yeah Jimmie, I think it's totally natural to stress out while figuring out a new medium. But it's true, I don't stress as much as I used to. I think part of that comes from teaching and seeing students get so wound up over a project they've barely begun. They've got three lines on their page and they're ready to tear it up "'cause it doesn't look good." That's an extreme example, of course, but I think we're all prone to moments like that, and I can recognize that tendency in myself. The frustration is all about doubt, isn't it? If we could only see the end of things, we'd relax quite a bit and let it all unfold - as it surely will. With every piece I do there is some struggle - the only thing I've ever done that was virtually stress-free was "'Abdu'l-Baha profile." I knew exactly what I wanted from the beginning and it was like following a script. It was great! Working with pastels is nothing like that, yet - maybe someday! :)

But my God Jimmie! You have nothing to worry about. Your work is so outstanding - if stress and pain is an invariable part of your process, if frustration is the "grist" for your "mill"...then just slather it on, brother, 'cause then pain is truly your friend!! :santa:

Patricia, thank you so much! I'm especially pleased that you thought the colors were ok. It's what I struggled with most. It's posting a little bluer than the original...

Jean, I am so heartened that you don't think they look photographic or "photo-realist." That's not at all what I'm after and I get worried when others think so. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Just another 'wow!' What more is there to be said?

David, this is jaw dropping. I love the soft contemplative feel (not depressing at all) and the color is very delicate and real.

See you in D.C.

Jimmie, not at all. You were very kind. It's just that when I see what you and David have done it inspires me to think about spending more time on my work. Perhaps I need some agony to get as good as I intend to get. I am always disappointing myself. Going really fast is actually a curse that is born of my impatience. If I had to spend days and days on anything I would never finish. It would get old too fast. No Jimmie, you are too sweet and generous. I need to think more about what I do.

As for struggling, first it doesn't show in your work. Secondly, even if you feel you are struggling please keep in mind how many color pieces you have done. Color will become second nature for you in no time at all. Then the stress will be gone and so will the challenge. I suspect at that point of mastery you will move on to some other medium so the excitement will return...but maybe that's just me, thinking like an artist again. I think I'm right though. I see it in you. ;)


David, you are SO welcome. Seeing your work has been a kick in the pants. It is "jaw-dropping" as Michelle said. I don't think that if I spent forever on a portrait I could do that. Not only is your technique top knotch but your colors have mood and harmony I only see in my dreams.

I'm too old to be "on" anything but calcium pills but I might agree with the freak of nature part for a variety of reasons, mainly the unfortunate lack of patience I mentioned above.

To Jimmie and David: Remember how long you have both been doing pastels and then look in the mirror and kiss it.

You both have incredible and unique strengths and I am so glad to be part of this forum so I can watch those develop.

Beautiful, quiet and sculptural. I love it

Allan

I agree with every single word!

Very beautiful work.

David,

Inspiring!

There's not a false stroke to be found.

I was planning on posting one here but think I'll wait out of respect for this true work of art.

Hope to meet you next week.

David, this work is incredibly impressive. The skin modelling is especially fine and touchable, I have to go back and keep looking at it.

I am running across so many wonderful artists on this site that give me a lump in my throat. I'm really looking forward to meeting you next week.

add my WOW!

David,

Waking up to see this portrait of yours, I couldn't bring myself to believe it was created, and with colored chalks none-the-less. The color, the texture, the mood and the overall purity of it, not a false note to be found, and beautiful even from close up--it is a gem. Congratulations.

Scott

Good gravy. Pastel #2, and it looks like this. I think I know how Jimmie feels, a bit. If I saw someone's second oil painting on this level of quality, I'd have the wakizashi poised at my abdomen. Or, at least, I'd have a big, art-themed garage sale.

I can't see what could be "off", as you say, with your flesh palette. The temperatures, chroma and hue shifts are subtle and seem just right in this piece. What a soft and pleasing portrait. Fine work, indeed!

Kimberly, thank you so much. Your encouragement - and everyone else's - means so much. It seems I go through a phase when I'm nearing completion of a piece, where the thing looks really ugly and I get discouraged. And then you guys bail me out! :)

Michele, I'm glad you don't think it's depressing - in the future I'll have to take my sister's evaluations with a grain of salt.

Unfortunately, when I look in the mirror I'm more likely to cry.

Allan, Claudemir and John, Thank you for your generous and gracious comments. John, it will be a great pleasure meeting you next week. I do wish the rest of you could be there!
Linda, same here!! You're so right. It's inspiring and encouraging to be among such talented artists - and such generous and kind human beings.

Janel, thank you! You are very kind.

Scott, coming from one who creates gem after gem, your comments are much appreciated. Thank you.

Rob, put that wakizashi away and go enjoy some miso soup - I've got a long way to go.

Hi David,

This is unbelievable! Truly inspiring indeed. You made me want to chuck my pencils and start doing pastels.

Congratulations on such a masterpiece!!! :thumbsup:


PS: I have a full set of pastels hidden in my drawer collecting dust, now I guess I don't have any more excuse not to try them out. It's been years since I touched this medium. After replying to this thread, I'll be running to the book stores to buy some pastel technique books.

Amazing work. It looks like so real to me as I view it. Indeed,this is a great work of art.

Continue painting and keep us inspiring.

May God be with you always.

Isabel, don't chuck your pencils! But also start doing pastels as well. I CAN'T WAIT to see your pastels...the way you draw, I'm sure they will be incredible!!

Xander, thanks so much for the kind sentiments. I'm going to try to do more painting - I'm devoting my entire summer to drawing and painting - from life. After the Portrait Conference a few weeks ago, I feel like I need to go back to square one.