Hello from Natalie Hunsaker

[Natalie Hunsaker]

Well, it's a pleasure to be admitted to this forum. I have long perused these posts for ideas on photography, marketing, lighting, and everything else. I made my choice on a camera and lighting because of the recommendations from Marvin Mattleson, donated a couple portraits through charity auctions thanks to Michele Rushworth, and even got some good fashion ideas from Chris Saper! I must say thank you to all the active members--especially those full-time professionals who spend so much of their time coaching others with little or no thought of return. I hope I can not only continue to learn, but be of help as well.

Aside from painting, I share my life with a great husband and a beautiful baby girl, who was born at just 1 lb 4 oz. Today she is nearing 10 times that weight and growing strong. When I am not absorbed with her lingering medical care, I do my best to be at the easel.

I've been selling my art since I was 11, but was derailed by well-intentioned modern art teachers in college. Apparently, many a good artist has abandoned realism after a similar experience. After regrouping, I finally got my BFA in Industrial Design because drawing real objects was at least acceptable in that discipline. Thank heaven I found my way back to portraits, though, since this return brought back all the joy I had with art as a child.

My site www.nataliehunsaker.com still has my old work (I need to update!) but posted below is a sample of my newest painting. It is a far cry better than my old work, thanks to a marvelous week with Bill Whitaker, but I still feel I have a lot of room to improve. I also feel I am in the process of finding "my style," but I suppose that might be a life-long effort!

Lastly, I've had a tough time getting the image color to look right. I've noticed I can get them looking really good in photoshop, but as soon as I do the "save for web" command, it immediately washes out the color. I've searched the posts for similar problems but haven't found any solutions other than what I've figured out which is to way over-saturate in photoshop and then hope that the "save for web" option will adjust it to normal color. Below is my best attempt so please take the true color with a grain of salt. The images still look a little yellow on my screen.

[Claudemir Bonfim]

Hello there Natalie,

Nice work.

Welcome to the forum.

[Natalie Hunsaker]

Thanks, Bonfim. By the way, I've been dying to ask you about the portrait of Joseph Smith on the banner of your website (second from the right). Perhaps it should be a conversation for a private email, but I just thought it was wonderful! I also love your idea of sidewalk sketches--the infant and mother portrait was especially daring. I look forward to getting to know you better.

[Claudemir Bonfim]

You've got a private message!

And Yes, I love sidewalk sketches. I started doing them just for fun and then I found out that that's a great marketing tool and that a skilled artist can make a good bunch of money working a couple of hours in the right place at the right time.
By the way, Daniel Greene started that way.

C. ya.

[Monika Becker]

Hi Natalie,
you have nice works on your web site!

[Natalie Hunsaker]

Thank you, Monika! I have three new works in progress and when I finish them, I'll probably revamp the site to reflect my newer portfolio. We'll see . . .

[Mary Cupp]

Hi Natalie,
Welcome!

I had the same problem with my last post. It was of a little girl at the market and when I reduced the size of the file for posting it washed out all the colors. The original is quite intensely colored, not pastel. I didn't use the "save for web" command. I just reduced the file size under the image menu. I suspect the fade out is just a result of so radically reducing the size of the file so I don't know a solution except, as you note, intensifying it first . Just remember to save the original before you make changes.

[Natalie Hunsaker]

Thanks for the tips, Mary. I'll certainly have to give that a try. I've also thought about decreasing the quality, but then that always makes me nervous, too. Alas, color reproduction will always be a challenge, won't it?

[Mary Sparrow]

Nice work! welcome.

[Natalie Hunsaker]

Thanks, Mary! Good to be here!