Portrait Artist Forum - View Single Post - Underpainting

Steven Sweeney · 12-01-2002, 12:18 AM

Karin Wells, in the course of a very generous and informative demo (time well spent and worthy, practical information offered in such depth as is rarely given by many other professionals here), repeatedly noted that she was demonstrating her own technique. She wasn't sitting in judgment of every other possible way to proceed, nor trying to freeze anyone into inaction because there were just too many possible ways to proceed, nor spitting in the face of any other artist for dull sport. She said she's tried other methods, but hasn't had luck with them. At least she's been open to the exploration of other methods. Characteristically, she didn't go on to say that those other methods must therefore be the flawed pursuits of idiots, or the stuff merely of someone's temperament. In not a huge amount more time than some of us have been reading Forum posts, Karin has used the insights of her "temperament" to garner awards and accolades that most of us wait until late in our careers to even wish for.

I don't happen to paint using an indirect method. In fact, Clive asked for comment from me and I had to admit to him that for the information he was seeking, his best source on Forum was Karin, and I suggested that he watch and learn. If another artist had advices other than those being demonstrated, he or she might have with a display of integrity taken on some of the tutorial, instead of sitting back and waiting for the work to be done by someone else and then taking shots at it.

Clive did watch and learn, and he's expressed his gratitude and has already told Karin, his able and generous teacher, how much he'd learned from her. Many other members absolutely reveled in the lesson and in the privilege of watching it develop.

That was a tremendous gift, with no self-serving or pontifical intent whatsoever, and I add my commendation to Karin for it. It was a highlight in the Forum, and those posts were burning up the printers at members' homes, I can assure you

As for the rest of it, I think the members of the Forum can sort that out for themselves.

12-01-2002, 12:18 AM	#43
Steven Sweeney Juried Member PT 5+ years Joined: Nov 2001 Location: Stillwater, MN Posts: 1,801	Karin Wells, in the course of a very generous and informative demo (time well spent and worthy, practical information offered in such depth as is rarely given by many other professionals here), repeatedly noted that she was demonstrating her own technique. She wasn't sitting in judgment of every other possible way to proceed, nor trying to freeze anyone into inaction because there were just too many possible ways to proceed, nor spitting in the face of any other artist for dull sport. She said she's tried other methods, but hasn't had luck with them. At least she's been open to the exploration of other methods. Characteristically, she didn't go on to say that those other methods must therefore be the flawed pursuits of idiots, or the stuff merely of someone's temperament. In not a huge amount more time than some of us have been reading Forum posts, Karin has used the insights of her "temperament" to garner awards and accolades that most of us wait until late in our careers to even wish for. I don't happen to paint using an indirect method. In fact, Clive asked for comment from me and I had to admit to him that for the information he was seeking, his best source on Forum was Karin, and I suggested that he watch and learn. If another artist had advices other than those being demonstrated, he or she might have with a display of integrity taken on some of the tutorial, instead of sitting back and waiting for the work to be done by someone else and then taking shots at it. Clive did watch and learn, and he's expressed his gratitude and has already told Karin, his able and generous teacher, how much he'd learned from her. Many other members absolutely reveled in the lesson and in the privilege of watching it develop. That was a tremendous gift, with no self-serving or pontifical intent whatsoever, and I add my commendation to Karin for it. It was a highlight in the Forum, and those posts were burning up the printers at members' homes, I can assure you As for the rest of it, I think the members of the Forum can sort that out for themselves. __________________ Steven Sweeney [email protected] "You must be present to win."