Hi, from around Toronto, Canada

[Dave McKnight]

I've lurked this site with interest from time to time and now I've finally decided to register and post.

There's not a lot I can say about my art background since I'm an amature so I'll be brief with the biography. I did a lot of drawing as a child. As I entered my teens, I typically drew characters and faces from imagination. Other kids seemed to admire my skills but I think I took them from granted. I took a few art classes while in high school but I ignored the advice I got about drawing from observation. I completely stopped all drawing in my late teens. Several years later, about five years ago, I decided to try out painting with a set of watercolours I had received as a gift. I enjoyed working with paint and eventually switched to acrylics and then oils.

Now my favourite things to paint are portraits. I simply love to paint people. As I progress, I've taken painting more and more seriously (some might say a bit too seriously). My main motivation is to produce the most authentic and fine work I can.

I hope to improve my technique and gain valueable insight from all the experts here.

[Brenda Ellis]

Hi Mike,
Welcome to the forum. (The best free art education you'll find!) I feel funny saying welcome, as I just joined myself. Your work is wonderful and I'm sure you'll have some valuable contributions to make to this forum.
There sure is a lot to read on here!

[Brenda Ellis]

Dave. It's Dave, not Mike. Dave doesn't even sound like Mike. Certainly not spelled like it. Dave. Welcome, Dave. Feel free to call me Late for Lunch...turn about is fair play. So sorry.

[Claudemir Bonfim]

Hi Dave, you already paint well, for sure you're gonna learn a lot here!
Welcome to the forum.

[Linda Brandon]

Welcome to the Forum, Dave! I love the animation in these strong faces and I'm looking forward to seeing more of your work here.

[Dave McKnight]

Brenda - Thanks for welcoming me to the forum. I saw your Betsy post and the nude you're working on and I'm very impressed. As for "Mike" instead of "Dave", maybe my last name somehow mixed you up - that sort of misplaced word thing happens to me all the time.

Claudemir - Thanks! I've explored the site a bit but I've only really scratched the surface. Is there any particular must-see forum?

Linda - I'm honoured to have your welcome. I visited your site and I love your paintings and style. I was also surprised to read about your diverse background with animation and law.

[Chris Saper]

Dave,

It is a pleasure to see you post your work. I hope you will enjoy your experience on the Forum as much as I.

Welcome!

[Alexandra Tyng]

Dave, I love your work. It has so much strength, in the colors, the brushstrokes, the composition, and the capturing of soul. I am looking forward to seeing more of it. It's really quite unique.

I'm wondering whether your unique style is a positive outcome of not following advice when you were in school. Wouldn't that make a interesting study? People learn in such different ways. I can sympathize with your early experience, because though I kept drawing and painting through high school and college, I did have trouble slowing down enough to take direction from others. Maybe that's a slightly different problem, but the result was similar in that I took much longer to learn certain things.

I just joined the forum a few months ago, and not only have I discovered wonderful people and talented artists, but also I have learned a lot. Hope you will have the same experience.

Alex

[Mary Sparrow]

Hi Dave, welcome to our forum. I really love your style, it "grabs" you. VERY nice. I look forward to seeing much more.

[Dave McKnight]

Chris
Thanks for welcoming me.

I see you're quite accomplished from looking at your website. I instantly recognized the skintones book. I love the vibrancy and painterly quality of your portraits.

Alexandra
Wow, you really make my day with those comments!

Regarding my "unique style", I don't know if I can say it has anything to do with my not following advice. It's true that I didn't listen at all when I was younger but in the last couple of years I've come to see that as an error in my ways. Since then, I think I've become less arrogant and I've tried hard to pay attention to what others have said. I've studied old masters, taken instruction, examined art works of the greats, read books, listened to critics and, most important, I've learned to be very self-critical.

I looked at your website. I admire the way you integrate your subjects with their environment in your portraits. It's quite amazing that you're able to resolve the complexity of those settings so well while having that serve to bring the people forward. I'm going to make a point of coming back and studying some of these.


Mary
Thanks! I aim for paintings that grab (me at least) so I'm happy that it has that effect on others.

I visited your site and I love the fresh, clean look of your portraits.