It's been a long time...

[Cindy Procious]

Originally Posted by Sharon Knettell

Oh good heavens! My beloved Alma Mater, NOT!

I cannot BELIEVE they ARE ACTUALLY having portrait classes. That was ALMOST beneath them when I was there. They preferred we play with sand and explore abstract shapes in charcoal.

Good start, watch the neck area, it seems a bit long. However a lovely job all in all!

You won't believe how this will advance your work in so many subtle ways.

Thanks Sharon.

But I think that you're mistaking where I took the classes. This was not at the Museum School - but rather "Studio Art Classes" in the art studios on the third floor of the museum.

About that neck... I could have used another 4 or 5 sessions to finish this drawing. I didn't get a chance to model any of the neck muscles - which would have, I think, fixed the problem.

I thought I could go it without this kind of work until I kept running back and forth to the museum to see how poorly my work compared to Sargent , Reynolds, Gainsborough, Sully, Stuart, Copley, Monet, Manet, the list goes on. It was humbling.

Why would you torture yourself so? LOL. Ignorance is bliss.

[Marina Dieul]

Nice job Cindy !
You certainly learned a lot from this class!
I too wanted to find an open studio during day time, and finally found one from 6:30 Pm to 9:30 PM. I was afraid to be too tired and not able to concentrate, but finally I' m always surprised when they say it's finished! I think I could paint some few more hours! The day after, I' m tired, but I'm completely addict. ( Well, we will see next winter if I'm enough addict to walk in the snow to go there...) The nice thing with open studio is that you decide your own goals ...

[Cindy Procious]

Mischa - thanks. By the way - I purchased my charcoal at a local art supply, and didn't need to know one iota of french in order to buy them. LOL

Marina - my difficulty does not lie in staying awake at night, but rather that I would not want to overly burden my husband (who is stepfather to my 3 children) with the babysitting/school night bedtime routine. But, maybe it'd be good for them, too, eh?

Thanks for your nice comments.

[Chris Saper]

Dear Cindy,

You have done such a great job - so sensitive. Brava!

[Cindy Procious]

Grazie, Chris!

[William Whitaker]

Thanks so much for sharing this with us Cindy. As I'm sure you know, this kind of work pays big dividends when it comes to personal improvement, personal artistic growth. I daresay you will find that drawing experiences like this help both your drawing and your painting. All of us need to slow down and pay more attention when we draw and never stop practicing basics.

Years ago, when I couldn't afford to hire models, I found people would sit for me if I gave them the finished drawing. Occasionally I was humiliated when the sitter declined the finished work.

I still can't get some people to sit for me in exchange for the drawing, but at least I can afford to pay models now.

Thanks again for sharing and posting. It was refreshing, informative and inspiring. I hope you share more wtih the rest of us.

Bill

[Cindy Procious]

Thanks, Bill, for your kind words.

I have definitely been inspired to go to open studio whenver I can. Certainly my family can get along without me for a couple of hours!