Thanks for the welcome, Mary.

Joy, I can't take credit for the journal format of my site, the web is rife with 'paintingblogs' so feel free to steal it. It's a nice way of looking back and seeing not only the work you've done, but also how you felt about it at the time. Its interesting how perspectives can change.

I believe we learn more from our mistakes than we do from our successes, so a straight portfolio site wouldn't be right for me at the moment. Also I hope that by trying to be as honest as I can about my progress and what I'm getting wrong, I can connect with other artists in some way. Painting can be a lonely pursuit sometimes.

I had a poke around your site too, lovely work. The only disappointment for me was that there wasn't more of it.

I know the area you speak of quite well, (although I'm well south of there now,) I lived in Nottingham for about ten years. I used to do street art around there, I've covered most of the midlands towns. The countryside is beautiful around there, especially once you get into the peak district - around Matlock and Belper. It's a limestone area with very distinctive bleached outcroppings of rock. Did you get to see that area?

Unfortunately I haven't heard of Teaching Art Inc or the Society for all Artists - but I will be sure to look them up. Most certainly I'll grab a copy of your book when it comes out here, it sounds like its right up my street.

27 years! Congratulations!

I'm spoiled in that I'm only a half hour train ride from London, and am often to be found skulking around the National Portrait Gallery, usually in the room with the Sargent portraits. They have some fantastic work there, it makes so much difference to see great paintings in the flesh I think. There's a brilliant portrait of Henry James by Sargent there, up close you can really see his 'swordsman' brush strokes. Step back and they meld into a beautiful realisation of the sitter. Very inspiring.

With all these lovely welcoming posts I'm already feeling right at home. What a nice place you have here. I think I see a spot at the back there where I can make myself comfortable :)

Hi Paul and welcome to the forum.
The portrait of Henry James is one I remember from my one visit to The National Portrait Gallery in London. I think that he took this portrait farther along the road to modernism than most of his portraits.
I especially remember wondering about the shadow color of the head, it contained almost no information of shape or details and was a perfect contrast to the light that played the leading part.
The other one I remembers is Watt

limestone outcroppings
 

No, I did not know about it until just now! It sounds like a great place to paint en plein air. I tell you what, if we go back we'll have to look you up, pack a lunch and go painting there.

[QUOTE=Allan Rahbek]
I especially remember wondering about the shadow color of the head, it contained almost no information of shape or details and was a perfect contrast to the light that played the leading part.
The other one I remembers is Watt

Paul, somehow I get the feeling that I've known you long before you joining this forum. Maybe, I relate to your struggles and approaches. I quite enjoyed reeding your evaluations of self and procedures. Do continue, if you have the time, I am sure this will help you and many others that visit your page.

I too joined recently and can honestly say, a grate bunch!

I am truly happy to make your acquaintance. Welcome!

Welcome Paul, I've enjoyed browsing through your website also!

Jean

Mischa, you have just completely made my day.

I started the site mainly as a record for myself, and I do ramble on a bit too much sometimes, but when someone says something like that - well, thats all the reason I need to keep adding to it. The next time someone raises their eyebrows about one of my more personal posts, I can tell them it's all Mischa's fault for encouraging me.

I've just been to your site too, and I have to say your work has floored me. Absolutely stunning. There's too much there for me to go into here, but I love the drawing of Oma, I think it has great depth and feeling. Also your drawing of 'Opa' goes right through me. Its not often I get a reaction that strong to a piece of work.

I'm guessing here, but does 'Oma' mean grandmother and 'Opa' grandfather? Are they relations of yours? If so, perhaps that's where that feeling comes from. Either way, beautiful work. For me there's nothing better than when strong technique comes together with real depth of feeling.

I was very interested to see your cast drawings too. Inspired by this thread on profound drawing by William Whitaker, I have just bought (today in fact!) my first cast - a torso of adonis, to begin practicing on. I can't afford to go and study in Florence, but I can afford a cast or two. I pick up the cast on Monday, I can't wait to get started.

Where are you from originally Mischa? I couldn't see it mentioned on your site. I think we have more in common than you might think - I'm a country boy too, and a biker to boot.

Thanks for the welcome Jean. Sorry, we must have been posting at the same time.

I'm gad you enjoyed the site - do have anything online? Its so much quicker to get to know people through their work when there's a link to a site, and suddenly I have so many people to get to know.

I'm only just beginning to realise the real extent of the talent lurking in these forums. I'm terrible with remembering names, but show me a painting by someone and I'll never forget them!

Thanks in any case, I'm sure we'll get to know each other in time.

No problem, Paul. I don't have a website yet, but it's on my list of things to do. I've been a member for quite a while now, and learned everything I know about oil on this forum. When I started, i was painting with airbrush ink (also used for fabric painting) because that's all I had. Now I paint as much as I can, have more supplies than I need, and love what I'm doing with a passion. I can see that you do too.

Jean

Hi Paul & Welcome!
I really enjoyed looking around your website/blog. Nice! Very interesting format. Must be a lot of work just to maintain it!