Trisha - without violin

[Allan Rahbek]

Mike,
It's a beautiful vignette, I like the organic shape, it reads like your girlfriend in the breeze on the shore.
Lovely soft skin, a human landscape

[Mike McCarty]

Allan,

I think one of the most difficult things to pull off is to incorporate the ground color in your painting - as in a vignette. It's like being on a tight rope without a net. When you cover the entire board there's usually a way to escape any problems that you encounter.

And for the continued tolerance and kindness of you, and all my forum friends, I offer this glimpse of some of our "in the dead of winter" Florida activities. I took this photo today at the Lemon Bay boat ramp in Englewood, Florida.

[Linda Brandon]

Mike, I love the movement in this piece, it is as if she has just gently turned her head. It's a wonderfully soft atmospheric effect. Beautiful color, too.

[Mike McCarty]

Thank you very much Linda.

In the final layer I would hold the piece of chalk as lightly as I could between my thumb and finger and let only the weight of the stick pull across the surface. Many times they just fall from my fingers because I'm holding so lightly. This doesn't help my breakage factor when they clang down to the easel tray, or onto the floor.

If (when) she comes back (still metaphorically speaking), I'm going to attempt a more traditional, fully covered approach, and, a bit larger.

[Mike McCarty]

Well, I got over my aggravation and went and found another piece of grape colored chalk. It's not a perfect match but it's close. I completed the composition and made a few other changes. This is all, I promise.

[Tom Edgerton]

Mike--

Congratulations on a fine piece! I admire anyone who can work in pastel, as I sure can't.

Best--TE