4th attempt
 

I skipped the third attempt because I tried too hard and it just fell apart. I did this one last night, about two hours. Again, it's with burnt umber and white. I'm going to try color next week, maybe add venetian. Maybe. :o

Man Jimmie you are getting better by leaps and bounds, she looks great. It won't be long and you'll be painting in color.
Alicia

Getting better Jimmie!

Painting from life is one of the scariest and most absorbing things you can do!

You're growing more comfortable with each attempt. Sometimes you need to take a step backward to get a running start so don't sweat attempt #3. Your drawing skills are really beginning to manifest and that's the biggest problem for everyone.

The only thing I would council you to do is to try and keep the shadow side values from getting contaminated with the halftone and light values. This will give you stronger sense of the form.

Thank you all for the encouragement.

That's actually the part that bothered me the most. The face was too long, but I decide not to waste too much time fixing it and jump into the painting.

I find myself feeling like I'm contaminating everything!!! I go back and forth making errors, which is ok as long as I learn from it. I do notice I have a hard time getting the light areas to come out. I would'nt know if it's the underlayers which have'nt dried or what. More practice, I'll keep you guys updated. Thanks again.

I am glad Marvin gave you a more considered reply.

If you look at the work of Velasquez, you will see how simple he keeps his shadow areas. One of things to learn in painting form is not always to copy everything we assume is up there but to be able to simplify and design the forms as well.

Sharon, you hit the nail on the head. Copying what's in front of you will get you, at best, a photographic likeness; regardless of whether you work from life or photos. Great painters, on the other hand, know how to manipulate the information before them to create the illusion of reality on a flat surface.

Jimmie it's exciting to watch these progress, it's also great to read the good input and pick up pointers for myself... or re-drill them into my head!
:thumbsup:

Thanks all for the advice, I'll try my best to keep them in mind on Monday. Take care.