New member from S.C.
 

Hello, I am Mary Ellen Johnson and I am so happy to be able to be part of this forum. I attended Ringling School or Art and Design in the 80's, but became distracted from my art studies for too long. In the past year I have been painting full time searching for a focus of work. A trip to The Metropolitan Museum of Art clarified some things for me. The beautiful portraiture of John Singer Sargent and others was extremely moving for me. I loved figure and portrait work in the past so this is where I have decided to focus my study. I realize I have a hard road ahead to get to where I want to be, but I plan to work very hard figuring it all out. Looking around this forum, I think there will be invaluable help here.
Here is a couple of examples of my portraits and one figurative.

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u...Johnson/bb.jpg
http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u...portrait-1.jpg
http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u...nson/port1.jpg

Hello there and welcome!

I liked the portrait of that lady in blue a lot!

Welcome, fellow Ringling grad! I was there in the late 70's. Glad you're picking up the brush again!

Thank you Claudemir.
Julie, it is always great to see Ringling Alumni! I am not a grad, I am sorry that I only made it 1/2 way to my BFA there. I left school to marry my husband, he was a graduate in 1988. I am trying to encourage him to pick up his brushes again as well.

Welcome, MaryEllen! I like your compositions very much, and I'm looking forward to your participation on the Forum. I have a feeling you have an interesting point of view.

I lived in SC for many years in Greenville, SC. I miss the foothills of the Smokeys.

Your work is terrific! Welcome.

Dear Mary Ellen,

Welcome and I hope you enjoy participating!

Mary Ellen
 

Like you I also made a recent trip to the MET and was amazed by the scale and beauty of Sargent's Portraits. They would inspire anyone who has a love for portraiture. Welcome and you've found a wonderful place in this site, so many talented people willing to share their experience. Have fun!

Oh ya, nice paintings, :thumbsup: I also like the drapery on the girl in blue.

Welcome to the forum, Mary Ellen. It is nice to meet you.

Thank you everyone for the welcome!
Dan, did you see the Americans in Paris exhibit? You are right, the beauty and scale of the portraits left me awestruck. I had no idea from looking in books just how large The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit really was.