Sharon, here I go

[Sharon Knettell]

Without a willingness to risk failure, we rarely succeed. Big pastels! How are you going to frame them? Who's going to buy them?

Color was never my strong suit either. Actually color acuity is the one faculty that improves with age, that's why doing lots of color studies at first will help the process. At first, just think simply about complementary colors; ex.,a dull orange head on grey blue background with a hit of bright orange red. A pinkish skin tone on an olive background with a bright pink lipstick. A yellowish skin on a greyed lavender background with a bright lemon yellow flower. One color is more neutral while its compliment can be at full strengh. This is a simple explanation to get you started. It is really like learning to ride a bike, once you master balance and technique, you can enjoy the scenery.

Hope this helps!

[Tom Edgerton]

Sharon--

Thanks for the comment on color. I've heard this before and it's reassuring to hear it again--that color is the element that one develops a mature sensibility for last of all. I'm counting on it. I've been painting like mad for a number of years and I only now feel that I have anything like a rudimentary grasp of color. I've said I'm a tonalist, but I suspect that's often an excuse to avoid getting in there and wrestling the beast.

Jimmie, you're ahead of the game if you take what Sharon is giving you and start to apply it now. Again, it's a strong start. And you've got the right attitude---you'll learn more from a big failure than a small success.

Best of luck--TE

[Jimmie Arroyo]

Thanks again Sharon and Tom. I'm sure I'll get it one day, right now I gotta try to fake it really well. I was able to put another hour into it, trying to kill some of the bright orange. I'm going to try some ochres next and take it slow from there. I still have to fix some features also, her chin, right eye and lip shape. I should have a further update in a couple of days. Thanks again.