New Member

Alan Melson · 02-10-2007, 05:38 PM

Hello,

I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Alan Melson and I am a CPA in Georgia. I have been painting for about 10 years and have enjoyed this site for quite a while. Included are a couple of paintings I did- one of my daughter under the rhododendrons. She had a feather in her hand and kept playing peekaboo with me until she got the giggles. I was inspired to paint it. The other is a self-portrait in pastel that has the "most wanted list" look to it. But I learned some things so that was the most important thing. I look forward to posting in the future and the critique section which I feel is very helpful. I enjoy most the challenge of painting from life and doing studies.

Thomasin Dewhurst · 02-11-2007, 02:20 PM

Welcome! Nice work. I especially like the way you handled the busy (and exciting) design in the painting of your daughter. Very ambitious, and turned out to be a very strong compostion. Your marks, too, are sensitive and skilled. Intelligent work.

Linda Brandon · 02-11-2007, 05:47 PM

Welcome, Alan! Like Thomasin, I appreciate the complexity behind the painting of your little girl and I hope you will continue to post here.

Alan Melson · 02-11-2007, 06:16 PM

Thomasin,

Thank you for your kind words. The values in the actual painting of my daughter are darker in the flower shadows and certain other places( her right shoe) and leaf in upper left. However, I felt I had to make the adjustments somewhere in the photo tweaking. I need to learn how to better use the photo software. I look forward to exchanging ideas on this site and getting constructive criticism on improving my work and continuing to try new things and grow as an artist. I want to post some more pieces and studies in the critique section for advice on improving my work. Please let me hear your ideas. I want you to be as honest as my wife. Well, maybe not that honest. Seriously, she always lets me know but she is not an artist and subtle little things like edges or values or colors. She gets the big eyeball thing though real well or when something is bugging her about a painting. She gets that little migraine look on her face and I know I'm gett ing ready to hear it. And that's ok. But I need advice from the experienced artists like yourself.

Thanks again.

Claudemir Bonfim · 02-12-2007, 09:05 AM

Welcome to the forum Alan.

I liked your work very much.

Marina Dieul · 02-12-2007, 09:35 AM

Alan, welcome to the forum!
The portrait of your daughter is very nice.