I would think you would be a prime candidate for purchasing some training tapes. I've only seen one pastel by Daniel Greene and thought it was worthwhile. I know that Peggy Baumgaertner has a video series.

I know that it is possible to make progress from within a vacuum. The race is to achieve some degree of excellence before you hit the nursing home.

Good luck.

Books and videos can take you a long way, if they're the right ones. I highly recommend Peggy Baumgaertner's videotape series. I also recommend Tony Ryder's drawing book. Dilligent practice of the procedures that those two artists describe will take you very, very far. Copying old master reproductions that you print out from the Internet can also teach you a tremendous amount.

Videos
 

Hi Ngaire -

I'm getting to rent videos from the Portrait Society of Atlanta, and have so far seen some by John Howard Sanden, Peggy Baumgartner and Burton Silverman. All were good. My suggestion would be to hear from folks about what videos they like, and check out the artists to see if their style gibes with what you want to accomplish.

Thanks Mike, Michelle and Julie
Yes I could definitely do with some classical training somehow.

The grant I received was to bring an artist to teach a workshop of some description to my town. I would love to buy the videos from the money but I don't think that is allowed. It is called a Regional Arts Development Fund.The idea is to pay an artist to teach I know it is a meager amount but hopeully I could attract someone to come for a day at least. A continuing or developmental program would be great of course.

I thought of contacting the realist society in my state to find out a worthwhile teacher. The teaching skills is important I feel, not everyone has that special appeal.

Mike by the way there are plenty of candidates here even a world renowned professor living here regionally. I have already had offers for portraiture but I told them I am not skilled enough yet. Give me a couple of years and maybe I could help them. I think I could be the only portrait artist (student) around here for about 200 miles. There is a big field of candidates to attract if only I was up to scratch. That is why I am desperate to see an artist in life not by a video. Basically any training would be great.