Another attempt at my first posting

[John Reidy]

Thanks everyone for your encouraging words and the criticism. You're right, Marvin, I did ask for them and I take them seriously. I kept hearing your voice when I worked throughout the painting, especially the background. The diploma is a very important element for my client and the blue mat is the school's color, although somewhat taken down a bit. I was afraid to go too far.

Holly, I haven't taken much time to visit the forum but I did discover some postings of yours and I'm glad to see you are still active and enjoy seeing your work. It's very nice. My hope is that I'm around for a long time.

Again, thanks to all.

[Denise Hall]

Hello again John!

It's so very nice to see your smiling face and this beautiful portrait. I also think the hands are wonderful and your soft colorings look very good (the values) together. One reason I don't post my paintings here is still the dreaded horrible jpeg issue. I cannot get it right still!

Congratulations on a beautiful painting and hope to see you again.

Denise

[John Reidy]

Hi Denise,

It's good to hear from you.

I was recently told that a gif file looks better than a jpg and I will try that next.

Thanks for your nice comments.

Hope to run into you again.

John

[Marvin Mattelson]

GIF format is best suited for reproducing flat color areas like logos and the like. GIFs are in smaller file sizes than JPGs, which are much better for the tonal variations found in paintings like yours.

[John Reidy]

Marvin-

Thanks for the heads up on gifs. My brother-in-law suggested them. He has his own web site for woodcarvings and he finds gifs work bettet at representing his work than jpgs.

By the way, he visited your web site and was very impressed (as he should be).

John

[Kimberly Dow]

John -

What a great painting! Because you asked I am going to mention something bothering me, but it could be just the image. The way his body is facing forward, but his front knee is facing to our left - it looks too short to me. On my screen it just doesn't read right...like the waist is too short or the upper leg too short. Like I said - it may be the photo - maybe I cant see the areas clearly! Great job anyway!

[John Reidy]

Thanks, Kimberly,

First, I'm sorry to take so long in responding. Its impolite to take this long.

I questioned that area myself but it did appear that way in my photographs. His left shoulder is more towards the camera and because he is sitting on the side of his desk his hips are askewed but it does appear awkward.

In a better painting I could have solved that and I do consider that portion a weakness.

Thanks for your input. I need to work harder on little problems like that.

John