How much has SOG helped you?

Mary Sparrow · 08-28-2003, 09:50 AM

Last week when Michelle posted her two portraits showing how much she has accomplished since learning from this forum was so interesting,and impressive to me.

There are many gifted professionals here that selflessly give their time to help others learn and grow as artists. While I do not participate often, I am paying attention, and reading and trying to understand and grow. (In between changing diapers and playing taxi service to the other two boys) I have SO very much more to learn and without this forum I probably would have stayed very mediocre at best for a very long time. Now I have hope that I may eventually turn out a portrait that is actually quite good! I am so very appreciative to Cynthia for all of her efforts in creating this forum.

I know that many of us have improved and I would like to see others post some portraits demonstrating this as Michelle did. If for no other reason than to show Cynthia and the other professionals that the time they give us is indeed worthwhile to us.

Mary Sparrow · 08-28-2003, 10:21 AM

I was working on the week I joined SOG

Mary Sparrow · 08-28-2003, 10:22 AM

the baby I am currently working on. I hope you see an improvement!

Michele Rushworth · 08-28-2003, 10:30 AM

Way to go, Mary. I can see you're making great strides too!

Lynn T. McCallum · 08-28-2003, 12:35 PM

Where would I be if this web site were not around? I have been struggling for years with my art and actually put my brushes down for ten years. Since November (when I picked up those moth eaten brushes again), not even a year now, I have grown personally with my art in leaps and bounds. If it weren't for Cynthia and her dedication, 1) I wouldn't have found a lost freind Connie Erickson so fast. 2) Would not be an active member with the PSOATL yet. 3) Marvin Mattelson? Never heard of him. You? 4) Sitting at some community center or art college struggling along the hard way (not that it

Jeff Fuchs · 08-28-2003, 01:06 PM

I've known of Marvin for years. Back in college, in the 80s, I thumbed through Communication Arts magazine until the pages fell apart. Back then, Marvin was a prominent illustrator, and a staple of the CA illustration annual.

Lynn T. McCallum · 08-28-2003, 01:16 PM

Jeff! I was just joking for crying out loud

Mary! You have gained so much as an artist. Michele, you also. Since I started sneaking peeks back in November, everyone has! It's so exciting watching everyone grow.

Jeff Fuchs · 08-28-2003, 02:43 PM

Lynn,

I didn't mean to slight your knowledge of the art scene. Back in the 80s there was no reason for anyone outside of the advertising world to know the names of the major illustrators, Marvin included.

I was also following Malcolm Liepke back in the 80s. Since then, he has made a big splash in the fine art world too, but, in my opinion, didn't remain true to his art in recent years. You should have seen his early work!

And what ever happened to Anita Kunz? I never see that name anymore. Maybe she's still in CA, but I don't follow illustration these days.

But back to Mary's question: I'm hoping that my association with this board will benefit me as much as it has Michelle, Mary, Beth, and others. So far, it's mostly taught me that I am much farther from my goals than I thought I was a year ago. There's nothing worse for an amateur than to surround himself with people who think his work is great. I think that is the main shortcoming of wetcanvas.com.

Lynn T. McCallum · 08-28-2003, 03:50 PM

Jeff, you're an okay fella in my book. You don't know me very well yet

Boy it's hard to pull folks legs around here. You would think we were a bunch of sensitive artist types or something.

I was surprised to see Marvin in the portrait artist scene. I too used to do a bit of commercial art, back in the Stone Age on cave walls. Wasn't my cup of tea.

Since I've been back in the loop it seems a lot has changed, art is always changing and we are always learning. What's the use of doing art if you aren't learning? As a matter of fact what is the use if you aren't changing and learning anything everyday?

We are all in the same boat. A ship of fools floating on and endless sea of canvas and paint.

Jeff Fuchs · 08-28-2003, 04:12 PM

While we're congratulating Cynthia, I'm curious to know if there are any other forums of this caliber out there. I've found other art forums, but often they aren't frequented by even one professional artist (my impression).

I'd like access to other venues for times when I have non-portrait art problems. For instance, I recenlty saw a call for entries for an "Animals in Art" competition. If I entered, I'd like to bounce my work off of some professionals for a cruel but honest critique. Can't do that here.

Of course, I could be sneaky about it. I could do portraits of me and my wife with our cats. I could post those here. Ahhh there's always a way.