Visitors' poll

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I am one of your unregistered users. I want to say "THANK YOU!" for allowing me to read your posts, even though I am not a member of your esteemed group.

Deep in my heart, I harbor a secret desire to be a portrait painter. In my dreams, I paint beautiful paintings filled with invigorating color, brush stokes that are "alive" and inspiring composition. I paint works that capture the essence of our humanity and the human condition.

Then cold, harsh light of reality hits me; I live in the sticks, drive 100 miles, one-way, each day, to a job I hate, and have never been able to find an instructor or someone to mentor me. I even ran ads in a few art magazines and wrote to a couple of very well-known artists to find someone I could work under--all to no avail.

I want to apply, but am too embarrassed by my work. Your site says it's for professionals. My uninstructed, uninformed attempts to paint are not suitable for view by such wonderful artists. And at this point in my life and in light of my skill level [more like lack-of skill-level], it has to remain a hobby.

So, on nights when its quiet and I am alone with my thoughts, when hubby has gone to bed, and I am away from the pressure and stress of work, I grab a glass of wine and settle in to read your Web site. I have been reading it for years, and it has provided me with much joy and elation. It's my escape into bliss. I feel like I know many of you from having read so much about you and from looking at your work. I have LOVED looking at the critiques--it has been the closest thing to instruction I could get. I live for looking at those new critiques!

I hope you continue to leave the Web site open for view. You all are my idols and, through your posts, have allowed me to vicariously experience the thrill of being an artist. I am eternally grateful for your openess, your willingness to share your knowledge and your inspiration!

May God Bless you all, and may your work continue to prosper.

Hello unregistered!

I've also been lurking for some time now and am also largely self-
taught.

I noticed you had tried to find a mentor which means that you would have time for instruction in addition to your job and private life. My question to you: is there no community center in your neighborhood that offers basic classes in drawing or painting. Just to get you started? It wasn't clear from your post if you'd also investigated this possibility or just looked for private instructors, who might be much harder to find.

Just a thought...

I was just reintroduced to this site (having lurked in the past, though I did not try to register) at the William Whitaker workshop last week in Scottsdale - where I also had the pleasure to meet Linda Brandon and Chris Saper (thanks again for the nummy cookies, Chris!).

I have no problem with the way the registration is set up, it's helps concentrate the professional conduct of the forum. It's also wonderful that you still keep the forum open for others to view - a lot of great info that obviously a lot of artists find useful.

I might still try to register, though I'm not sure my work is up to par. Also, I haven't done many people, though I've done steady work in horse portraits over the years. I'm not sure if non-human paintings are OK to send the jurors. I'm also not aiming to get into doing primarily people portraits, but being better able to paint people adds to what I can offer with equine commissions and original work.

Either way, I should have something human to show soon enough, seeing as I'm now fired up thanks to the workshop. Aside from a large commission of a local physician astride his lipizzan stallion, I'm planning on starting a self portrait, and might even bribe my kids to model for me.

Carole
www.caroleaharris.com

[Thomasin Dewhurst]

Carole,

You could always post your horse-and-rider pictures - other participants here have done that. I think think they would be lovely to see.

Thomasin

Thank you, Thomasin! I might give it a go at it soon - I'm almost finished with my self portrait and it isn't horrific, so maybe that will help!

Carole
www.caroleaharris.com