Figure on gesso panel

[Chris Saper]

Dear Bill,

This is such a lovely thread, and wonderful to see your steps. I can hardly wait to see you this spring.

[Rob Sullivan]

WOW.

I'm with Sharon: what more could one ask? Just great stuff, Bill (geez, may I call you that?). I hate to seem like a sycophant, but you are iconic in my book of contemporary figure painters. With your permission, I hope to commit to memory the techniques here and pass them on to my students; this info is priceless.

I must tell you, one of assignments in the beginning drawing class I taught last semester was to copy a master. There was a lot of Bouguereau and Leonardo and Lord Leighton. But one student came in with a printout of "The Secret." I was very happy to point this out and say, "Here's a guy who's not dead!" His drawing came out very good indeed - a breakthrough, actually.

A light touch, eh? I'm like King Kong when it comes to alla prima. Better lay off the bananas and practice more!

Kimberly - AWESOME link. I've been looking for the very thing.

[Maria Nemchuk]

Dear Bill,

What a treat! Thank you so much for posting this!
I hope to take your workshop someday too ...


Maria

[Tom Edgerton]

Mr. Whitaker--

Thanks so much for this demo...your work continues to be an inspiration.

Best--TE

[Claudemir Bonfim]

Simply beautiful.

You know I love your work.

[Garth Herrick]

Originally Posted by Tom Edgerton

Mr. Whitaker--

Thanks so much for this demo...your work continues to be an inspiration.

Best--TE

Everyone has expresses it better already, but I want to echo that this demo is an invaluable asset to the Forum community, and will inform and inspire better paintings from many.

I love the punchy background and the way it chromatically supports the figure. Hopefully one day I can take a pilgrimage and see your works in person.

Garth

[Jean Kelly]

Another wonder treat for my eyes, thank you so much for posting this. I always learn so much from your threads. I'm going to look for the marble dust etc. and see if I can gesso one myself. Is there a standard "recipe" for this concoction?

Jean

[Timothy C. Tyler]

Bill, I'm always surprised to see how boldly your start as compared to how finished (fine) the final results are. I saw an old issue of Art Talk today with one of your works on the cover.

[Tony Pro]

Bill

Beautifully done, as usual...

Keep posting!

Tony

[Elizabeth Schott]

Bill, can you humor me and prehaps others and post an extreme super-duper close up of your brush work? I am with Tim, you brush work is loose and painterly but your images, as the face here are so smooth and finished looking!

It must be magic!

Another gem!