David, I am so flattered you stopped by to peek and yes, practice only. What was I thinking?! I just wanted to do something more than a vignette for a change but man, that jacket. Yikes.
Are you always this nice? It makes it so much easier to know you are nice because I am SO jealous. I can pack up that little artist voodoo doll for now. And now with you getting a nice new camera I am doubly jealous. Are you trying to kill me?
I'll get you back! I won't be getting you back with my wondrous color. I'm still working on the long list you mentioned and I doubt I will ever "arrive." After painting for so many years it amazes me I never even really considered temperature, even value. I just paint what I see. I skipped a lot of color theory classes. How embarrassing. The best I can say is my color is slightly better than my miserable camera might have you believe.
Now for the fun part. This one took about 8 hours.
Did it work? Did I get you back? I didn't think so...
Linda, thank you for commenting. What you say means a lot to me. Really. I don't know how "grabbing" this is but you are sure right about getting constructive feedback. It is really helpful. If I could just live up to the suggestions and remember what I learn for the next one I would be so happy.
Kelly is coming by to see this even though it is practice but I do want her to think of it as flattering so I am DEFINITELY going to heed your advice and wipe out that line. Smudge here, smudge there and it will take a few years off. She'll never know.
Sometimes I get so caught up in trying to get a likeness I forget that people don't always want everything they have to shine through in a portrait. Excellent reminder.
Again, thanks!