Portrait Artist Forum - View Single Post - Victoria

Steven Sweeney · 08-30-2002, 08:16 PM

Mike,

I congratulate you on your tenacity and vision and effort. I don't distinguish between "self-taught" and "taught" artists. We all have to do our own work. I don't keep count or track, but I think you've come back over and over again, probably more than most others on site, with new and interesting pieces, as well as with lots of insights about others' work and about varied topics Thanks for that. You do a h*** of a lot of work. Good on you.

I think this is nice work, too. I like the pose and the general execution.

To be more brief than notoriety would anticipate, the very first impulse I had was to suggest that you explore a broader range of values. On a scale of 1 to 10, I think 98% of this piece is between 4 and 6. What that does is rob you of quite easily realized form definition. The face lies flat, and lies in the same plane as the forearm, also flat. It's really quite difficult to sort out the form-defining light, because the subject's entire blouse just glows, melding into the brilliant background. I think a clever pigment choice for the blouse could make this a stellar piece. But there, too, not just one colour wash - there has to be attention to the light play as forms (planes) move toward or away from the light source.

Again, uncharacteristically brief, but I'm off to Taipei in a few hours, and far to go before I sleep.

Cheers,

08-30-2002, 08:16 PM	#7
Steven Sweeney Juried Member PT 5+ years Joined: Nov 2001 Location: Stillwater, MN Posts: 1,801	Mike, I congratulate you on your tenacity and vision and effort. I don't distinguish between "self-taught" and "taught" artists. We all have to do our own work. I don't keep count or track, but I think you've come back over and over again, probably more than most others on site, with new and interesting pieces, as well as with lots of insights about others' work and about varied topics Thanks for that. You do a h*** of a lot of work. Good on you. I think this is nice work, too. I like the pose and the general execution. To be more brief than notoriety would anticipate, the very first impulse I had was to suggest that you explore a broader range of values. On a scale of 1 to 10, I think 98% of this piece is between 4 and 6. What that does is rob you of quite easily realized form definition. The face lies flat, and lies in the same plane as the forearm, also flat. It's really quite difficult to sort out the form-defining light, because the subject's entire blouse just glows, melding into the brilliant background. I think a clever pigment choice for the blouse could make this a stellar piece. But there, too, not just one colour wash - there has to be attention to the light play as forms (planes) move toward or away from the light source. Again, uncharacteristically brief, but I'm off to Taipei in a few hours, and far to go before I sleep. Cheers, __________________ Steven Sweeney [email protected] "You must be present to win."