Holly Snyder-Samson, new member

[Holly Snyder]

Hi everyone,

This is a wonderful Forum, I've learned so much from it. Thanks, Cynthia, for this great resource, and thanks to those who contribute their time and expertise.

I have no background in art, and have only been painting for about a year now. I'm actually an electrical engineer by degree. I have always enjoyed photography however, especially capturing people's facial expressions and emotions. My Dad took up painting as a second career, and ever since he's passed, I've always wanted to see if I could paint. So I began by copying whatever high quality images I could find from books and magazines, just to see if I could get a likeness. However I've learned about copyright issues from reading posts on this Forum, and am now working from my own material.

I work in acrylics only because I had lots of paints from my Dad. I should try oils someday, as it seems as if they would produce much more luminous skin tones. I'm still learning about color combinations, and trying to develop my style to be a little more loose and painterly.

I'm looking forward to some blunt criticism from the wealth of talented artists here (family and friends are always too kind). My website is http://www.artsci.us I'll post a painting in the "other medium critiques" section.

Regards,
Holly

[Mike McCarty]

Hello Holly,

I'd say your father passed on a considerable amount of talent. Your paintings show a real flare for composition, and a technical strength which no doubt comes from your engineer's mind.

Composition and accurate drawing skills, you're 90% there.

[Denise Hall]

Hello Holly,

Welcome to the SOG forum and I have also learned a lot since I joined. The best part of this forum is the friendly, constructive criticism and the professional artists who give of their time.

Take advantage of it often in the critique sections for some A plus advice. The moderators as well as professional practicing portrait artists on this site share great tips and knowledge of technique with open arms.

As an art major throughout college years, C.A. graduate, I used guache and acrylics often. I am an oilpainter exclusively in portrait and am always amazed at anyone who becomes proficient in acrylics with the figure or portrait. It is sooo hard! Your work is lovely, and like Mike said, draftsmanship is good so you are getting there.

Come up to NC this summer to study with one of the masters of the portrait at our special Portrait in Oil workshop in Greensboro with Marvin Mattelson if you are ready to move to oils - what a great medium!

See the section on workshops to get the details or visit Marvin Mattelson's site within the SOG site to see an online brochure with all the details.

We would love to have you.

Again, welcome to the greatest portrait artist forum on the net.


Sincerely,
Denise Hall

[Holly Snyder]

Hi and thanks for the welcome.

Mike, thank you for the encouragement. I hope to pick up the other 10% with the help of this forum .

Denise, yes I agree acrylics can be frustrating, as it takes me many rounds of mix and apply to achieve the same blended effect that probably one or two oil strokes would do. It can also be hard to visualize the couple shades darker the paint will turn as it dries. Does oil paint do that? However, being able to repaint an area after a couple minutes of drying time is worth its weight in gold to me. Maybe in time I won't need to rework things so much.

Although I don't feel ready at this point, I will give Marvin Mattelson's workshop some thought, thank you.

Regards,
Holly

[Sergio Ostroverhy]

Very impressed by your Tiger and Girl in the plain... a lot of patience indeed to do that.