Practice study

[Chris Saper]

Dear Mary,

My apologies for not responding sooner! I think you are moving in the right direction, given your goals of improving your edges and painterly surface quality.

I think you have done an excellent job on the figure placement/composition

[Mary Cupp]

Thank you Chris,

Those are very good suggestions that I will try as soon as I get back in the studio. I am still looking for that photo. The reference was taken outdoors in a rather overcast autumn light so it does have a somewhat bluegrey cast

[Chris Saper]

PS Light backgrounds aren't a necessary problem, and I have seen many wonderful pieces with light grounds.

I think that the issue is to stay true to your subject. Very obvious paintng from life, but much less so trying to deal with a photo,esecially if you are trying to renvent background/light sources etc. I really think you have to start with an image of tonal compositions.

[Mary Cupp]

I have made some subtle changes here. I had a real struggle with the eye. Just want to see what you think of it now.