Self portrait -with a wink at Norman Rockwell
 

Chris-

Here is the posting and close ups I promised. I was surprised at the wonderful responses I received on the "new members" list.

First, I share this with eveyone because I have gained so much in the 2 months visiting and I hope you gain something from my attempts.

A little background. In the past 30 years I have only painted for fun and my total output I could count on my figures and toes,and have a few digits left over. So I am a beginner at this.

If you are familiar with the movie "Music Man" remember his method of teaching the kids to play their instruments? The "think method." Well, that's what I have been doing for about 25 years. I'm a art magazine addict.

Back to the painting. This was a first attempt to develop a composition and not just accept something in a photograph. It is 40" x 53" on (gulp) 1/4"masonite.

I'll never do that again! I use an Olympus E-20N Digital camera. It has a little remote control button I used to snap the shutter. I would snap a picture, get up, look at the composition in the view finder, check lighting, make an adjustment to a prop, then sit down and snap another. This went on for about 100 pictures. I kept making smaller and smaller adjustments so that most everything in the background plays a part in my composition. (Another tip from Norman.)

More detail
 

This is also a small family portrait. (Except my wife is missing). Those are my two kids when they were little. and my again, all grown up at 18, is the main painting. My mother is the tracing on the right. Even Norman makes an appearance in the bottom left corner.

Peter,
Let me be the first to say how charming I find this portrait. Love the natural/relaxed look and the overall composition. There is such a sense of amusement in your over-the-shoulder glance. Nice sense of light and I like the 'fade out' sort of effect where you've got the more intense color grouped near the center of interest.

Charming all the way around! Kudos!

more detail and closeups
 

I call this painting "Cellar Dwellar". The lighting was an interesting combination of overhead fluorescents and a small southern cellar window. And yes, I do paint in my bare feet.

even more detail
 

Some of these photos I tried using the enhance feature on my photo editor. I'm still experimenting, so please forgive the inconsistency.

face close up
 

I'm almost finished.

last one I promise
 

I really paint over and over and over, until I'm pleased with the result. I can't wait to learn how to do this in a more painterly method.( and from a live model)

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Peter, you have a lot going for you. I love the tongue in cheek tone of this whole painting! Your years of reading (thinking) are blooming.

Jean

Terri-
Thanks for being he first to jump in. You have hit on a lot of the elements I tried to present. What a great feeling when someone like you notices and comments. Rockwell always went over the top with his expressions, I'm afraid I am not that bold.

Mark-

Thanks again. Did Rembrandt where shoes? How do you keep your feet warm over there?

Jean-
Thank you, Jean. I'm afraid I'm developing a new addiction for this forum.