University President

[Alexandra Tyng]

Thank you, Heidi and Chris!

Heidi, I admire artists like you who can actually create something in three dimensions--unlike myself, who can only paint the illusion of a 3-D object or subject. Anyway, I'm attaching a closeup of the bust (sorry, the resolution isn't great, since it's just a enlargement of the original jpeg.)

Chris, I am sure he would appreciate your reaction. He is a very dynamic leader, both visionary and practical, and I quickly saw why he brought Drexel out of a financial and academic decline 10 years ago and made it a thriving and exciting university with new law and medical schools. I wanted the portrait to reflect his power and also tie him to the historic origins of the school.

[Carlos Ygoa]

Alex,
I like very much the way you handled the face (among the other elements, of course, which also have technical mastery)...real and lifelike and expressive. From what I

[Dan Landrie]

I'm no expert, but I can see that this is beautifully done.

Congratulations Alexandra.

[Linda Brandon]

This is so beautifully painted, Alex! And so well-designed in so many ways. I congratulate you on your vision, fine craftsmanship and your success in portraying the humanity in your subject. I'm delighted you're receiving an award for this one.

[Alexandra Tyng]

Thank you Carlos, Dan and Linda!

Carlos, I did work mostly from photos, as I usually do with this kind of commission, but Dr. Papadakis did pose for a 1-1/2 hour oil sketch, and that was very helpful when it came to putting down the correct color notes in the face and really being able to "read" the photo. You can read about the process and see the sketch in the WIP section.

Dan, what makes you say you are not an expert? Fake it till you make it. Seriously, you are as good as many experts and I value your opinion.

Linda, I appreciate your support. It means a lot. It's hard to pull all those things--vision, craftsmanship and feeling--together and keep them in mind while we are painting. We have to keep challenging and encouraging each other!

[Mischa Milosevic]

Alex, what can I say except congrats the hard work has brought its rewards and you truly deserve it. Well done! I am glad that you had the man sit for you and in this way you were able to capture the right hue within the values. Once more my sincere congratulations.

[Tom Edgerton]

Terrific news, Alex! Will look forward to seeing you there.

This is a stunning portrait. The color is superb and lifelike, and the entire painting is a treatise on edge quality.

Wonderful work!

[Alexandra Tyng]

Mischa and Tom, thank you so much for your very generous comments. It was a lot of wok and there were many elements to coordinate. I guess I would call it a treatise on edge quantity As for quality, well, I'm never satisfied with my own work but I'm glad you see something worth looking at, Tom. It's so much easier for me to admire other people's work than my own.

Yes, I'll see you at the conference!

[Marina Dieul]

Congratulations on a very well balanced portrait !
Not beeing satisfied is a good way to go further, to never loose the desire to try new possibilities, and to do a better job day after day...
For this one, your job is finished, it's our job now to admire it as it is !

[Grethe Angen]

Alex, I admire the way you did this very much.The complex composition , and the welcoming look of the man and the colour of his suit ...everything so well done. Many congratulations.