Christy Talbott's drawing children from life

[Enzie Shahmiri]

I love these sketches Christy!

[Christy Talbott]

Thank you Michael, Alexandra and Enzie for your encouragement. I'm glad you like them. In doing this I'd been beginning to feel I couldn't draw which means I truly need this exercise!

[Patricia Joyce]

Keep going, they are beautiful and I can't wait to see the portrait of the commissioned piece. I just know you will do a great job!! Let the nervousness work for you, that is what I try to do and sometimes it actually helps. Linda Brandon once told me to take slow deep breaths when you begin and to act like you are already a master portrait artist. It helps, believe me! Good luck. Let us know how it goes!

[Linda Brandon]

Originally Posted by Patricia Joyce

Linda Brandon once told me to take slow deep breaths when you begin and to act like you are already a master portrait artist.

Oh... did I say that?!

It's hard to generalize how master portrait artists act in front of subjects. The artists I personally characterize as masters are all over the field in terms of how they act.

I hope I meant to advise that you should act in front of your client as if you've done this before, since she might be more nervous than you are.

Anyway, that is one fine self portrait and I am eager to hear how the sitting went, Christy!

[Christy Talbott]

Well, I'm ashamed to admit this... I chickened out I ended up taking photos of the 22 yr old, and we (she, her mom and I) picked a pose from the photos. She came back a couple days later, and I did work some from life. It seemed to look okay when she left, but as I continued to work on it from the photo, I realized that it just wasn't going to work. I'm not sure why it's not working. It could be that I toned the canvas a dark blue/gray. I can't seem to overcome a very cold feeling to the portrait though the photo and reality was warm enough.. I'll need to begin again. She was only here for a week and won't be back in town again till Christmas.

I feel I need a little practice painting friends or models from life before starting with paying clients. Or maybe I'll offer to do some for a drastically reduced rate so that I can gain experience.

[Chris Saper]

Or maybe I'll offer to do some for a drastically reduced rate so that I can gain experience

Christy, Please don't do this. There is nothing wrong with doing any number of studies from life, and nothing wrong with the practice of getting sitters. I would really encourage [you U]not [/U] to sell something that you feel will be less than your best. Give the studies to your models, or donate them to an auction, or throw them away. I know that in five years, you would just hate to see less-than-your best-work out there

[Christy Talbott]

Chris, You're right; I wouldn't like to give a painting to anyone to hang on their wall that I didn't like myself. I was just thinking I'd have a lot of potential models that I wouldn't need to pay for! I would tell them that my purpose in doing this is for practice and that I'd only sell (at a very reduced rate) a portrait that I feel is worthy of hanging. That would be okay, don't you think?