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Old 06-18-2009, 11:31 AM   #1
Debra Jones Debra Jones is offline
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I had a bit of evolution in that area. I have boxes of oversized heads from being in the very back row when I used to come from work, but I think I ended up doing mostly portraits because the rest of the body was so hard to see through the other painters! I dance too much for a horse, which most studios have in the front. I also have a bunch of big chinned people that come from being shortish anyway and when I get too close, I really tend to distort.

For some reason I think it is just better to be standing and walk up to look for the detail. Or better yet, fake it.

Another think I noticed, especially in portrait group where more novice posers are recruited, being TOO careful about details tends to make you chase the pose. The exercise of deciding what I want in the picture before I paint has helped me a lot in overcoming a model who sinks and straightens. By setting all my landmarks early and working hard to paint to the first pose, I often have to make up the details. There is just too much migration and working looser tends to make for better paintings.

You are making me feel even hungrier! I started trying to make a reasonably priced life class once a month or so, but the model tends to keep a pose for three or four weeks. I just can't afford even studio like I did. BUT it is so freeing and I really need it when I find myself glued to my photos. Lose the sense of breathing.
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Old 06-18-2009, 03:25 PM   #2
Michael Georges Michael Georges is offline
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I am well known in my group for doing mostly head portraits and so they will not have too great an issue with me nabbing space closer to the model.

It certainly makes a difference in my drawing!
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