HA! I've discovered the secret to great art!

[tdn]

@Kalhoun

I don’t know if you’ve ever tried this approach, but if you draw a 1-in. grid on a photo and paint each square individually, you can get either a very close likeness of your subject or a very interesting rendition. It’s oodles of fun to do.

This is the third time I’ve tried this particular painting. I did what you suggest on the second try, but it came out pretty bad. I’m not sure why.

fessie, thanks much for the in-depth analysis. Honestly, I can’t decide whether I like it or not. Mostly not. I agree that the hair stinks. I’m just not sure what to do with it. (If you saw me, you’d understand that my hair issues extend to far beyond my renditions.) I like the intensity of color – but if you saw the original, you’d see that there is a ton of white paper showing through.

I most likely will not hang this in the exhibit.

[tdn]

@fessie

Now, unless you took this photograph yourself, you can’t really take entire credit for the composition; you’re borrowing from choices that someone else made. But you adapted them well in the way you put the photo to paper.

To address this part, yes, I took the photo myself. I even told her how to pose. I was consciously going for attitude in a 3/4 view.

[fessie]

Honestly, I think that drawing people we know is far more difficult than just drawing people. It’s so hard to separate oneself from the visual experience vs. knowledge about the person. I’d much rather draw a stranger than someone I know.

There’s nothing wrong with just saying “oh, well” and putting the piece away for a while. In another year, you might see it quite differently.

Good for you for working from your own photograph!

Take a look at Chuck Close’s work sometime, preferably in person – IMHO, he’s one of the greatest living artists. Lucian Freud might blow your mind, too.

[El_Cid_Viscoso]

@tdn

Be honest, I can take it. I really dislike this painting.

My very first thought: tweenaged Lisa Simpson. I like it, but only because it is unsettling.

Did you float the hair or is it all brush strokes? Also, is that a schooner on her medallion?

[tdn]

@El Cid Viscoso

My very first thought: tweenaged Lisa Simpson. I like it, but only because it is unsettling.

Did you float the hair or is it all brush strokes? Also, is that a schooner on her medallion?

All strokes, though done in a haphazard way. I really need to develop a technique for hair.

The medalion was just a random doodle. But putting a schooner on it – brilliant! Mind if I steal that idea?

[eleanorigby]

@tdn

To address this part, yes, I took the photo myself. I even told her how to pose. I was consciously going for attitude in a 3/4 view.

is the photo somewhere that we can compare it to?

I don’t mind her hair-what isn’t anatomical about it? If anything, it looks like she’s having a bad hair day or has one of those madly smart cuts that looks like is was cut in the dark with scissors…

The upside down thing is intriguing.

I do so want to “do” art someday-paint or draw, maybe sculpt. I have no time now-grad school, work and kids. But someday…

[El_Cid_Viscoso]

@eleanorigby

is the photo somewhere that we can compare it to?

Noooooooo tdn, don’t do it! We’ll all be so totally in your head!

[El_Cid_Viscoso]

@tdn

All strokes, though done in a haphazard way. I really need to develop a technique for hair.

Don’t try, man you’re doing it on your own. I like that hair because it looks like a big ol’ slick of caramel. That’s why I asked you about floating it.

The medalion was just a random doodle. But putting a schooner on it – brilliant! Mind if I steal that idea?

Did you say “brilliant” in the Guinness Voice? If not, I may be forced to rescind all rights to the Schooner Medallion.

[Kalhoun]

@tdn

All strokes, though done in a haphazard way. I really need to develop a technique for hair.

The medalion was just a random doodle. But putting a schooner on it – brilliant! Mind if I steal that idea?

I would think the Masquepen would be the perfect tool for hair. You can get thin, even lines with it. You might want to give it a second look!

[tdn]

I’ve given up on on the portrait. Yesterday I tried the 4th version of it, and came to the conclusion that I’m just not at that level yet. Doesn’t mean I’ve given up, but there’s no way I’m going to have a decent version ready by the exhibition. I need to know the titles of all my works by Friday, and I don’t want to commit to doing something I’m not sure will come out at least fair.

So I’m going to try a few things on more familiar ground over then next few days and see what shakes out.

Thanks for all the great advice, however!

Sincerely,

-The Boat Guy