[Karin Wells]

When someone is beginning to seriously undertake the study of drawing and painting, "originality" is not particularly emphasized during the learning of basic techniques.

Copies of Old Master paintings and drawings are therefore exercises, just as this had always been the general practice for apprentices in the painting studios of the past.

Nevertheless, I believe that it would be helpful for others to view the kind of study that is necessary to achieve the painting and drawing techniques which are meant to allow for unhampered self-expression later on.

After my last post, I fear that if Nathan posted a "copy" in the "Critique" section, he might get criticized for not being "original" by those who were clueless as to the powerful learning value of a copy...

Does anyone agree that a new section be created on this forum...."Copies" ("Learning Tools," "Basics," or somesuch) might make sense as a method of viewing/learning basic technique here?

Cynthia?????