Janice

[Kimberly Dow]

This is a lovely piece Jeff!

Go forth and color!

[Jeff Fuchs]

I've been looking at William Whitaker's demos on his website, and I just may try to develop this a little at a time, and see if I can do it. He begins with a very detailed oil drawing.

If you thought my wife looked a little masculine, it seems I was a bit too generous with the jawline. It bothered me, but I wasn't sure what the problem was, so now that's been corrected. I moved the jawline just a little, but it seems to have made a big difference.

[Alexandra Tyng]

Jeff,

I think your wife has a really interesting face, and I can't wait to see what you do with this technically excellent and soulful monochrome sketch.

[Elizabeth Schott]

Jeff I not only say bravo, but put a frame on it and hang it up.

I wouldn't take it any further, it's lovely as it - or just develop it as a Grisaille.

Why not simplify this part of the painting for the next time by just massing more of the shadow areas and not pulling out so much value detail to then just cover it up with paint. Unless you're planning to glaze, build your form with the color too.

Did Janice love it? I do!
I'm also looking forward to the next one.

[Alexandra Tyng]

Jeff, I think Beth has hit on the problem: you have developed this so far that you might be afraid to ruin it (i.e. cover it up) by adding color. Actually I would be, too. The drawing becomes so awesomely detailed it's hard even to know how to apply paint. If this is indeed the problem, then it might be wise to preserve this as it is and develop a new piece, letting something slightly different emerge, even if you are working from the same pose.

Alex

[Chris Saper]

Dear Jeff,

I know it's not helpful to the 'color quest' to say this, but I think this is ready for a signature and frame. With a slide for a competition.

I think your drawing and edge control show a tremendous sophistication -

Great work.

[Jeff Fuchs]

Thanks for the kind words, everyone, but I'm afraid it's too late.

I tried to apply another layer of paint, hoping to at least complete a monochrome face (as opposed to the bare canvas for the light areas). It was awful, but at least the underpainting was dry enough that I could wipe it back down to the original work and try again. After failing and wiping it down about four times, it wasn't worth keeping anymore. It ended up in the trash.

But it's all a learning experience. I may switch to small still lifes for a while until I get the hang of handling paint. No point trying to paint a difficult subject in a difficult meduim if I don't have the basic skills.

Janice seems to have a busy weekend planned for me, so Monday evening I'll pull out a new canvas, pop in an audiobook, and see what I can do.