My latest self portrait.

[Chris Saper]

Hi Debra,

Having seen this painting in person, I think the colors look really true.

I think that the complementary color scheme you have here is very pleasing, and successful. I liked the fresh, lively feeling of the piece, and might offer only a very minor comment with regard to the composition (which I find to be overall original and well thought out): the brush handles are forming a tangent with the white rectangle in the background, running paralled to the white edge, the top of the canvas, and other horizontals; the handles seem to be advancing after they leave your hand on our right, but my feeling is that the sharp edges in the ferrules and handle silhouettes may be causing this illusion.

I really like this painting.

[Debra Jones]

I may keep this square.

I think what you are seeing, Chris is the spare brush going at a slight downward angle. I was working to think circle. Not that all the extra really is useful, but on the whole picture that tends to echo the arm going out on the bottom. Think wide oval and see if it fits this whole better.

I also see how the bit of the brush past my thumb needs clarification. I need to connect it more clearly to the handle so it doesn't turn back again.

Editing.... did you mean by tangent that it was hard to distinguish the background from the foreground? I felt happy with the rhythm of the horizontals. The subtle turn of the arm in front and the back direction of the brushes, not exactly straight were all to make that internal spin.

I was hoping while looking at the details in the brushes, you would subliminally see the glasses. They are usually on my nose but the boyfriend actually said he liked looking at my WHOLE face so I put them on top.

[Jean Kelly]

Hi Debra,

I do like the energy in this and all your work.

You may feel that your formal exercise was tight and not quite recognizable as your style, but it still looks like your painting to me. So even if you try to mask it, I don't believe that you will be able to shake your energetic look.

Jean

[Leslie Ficcaglia]

I didn't even see those glasses, dj*, for what it's worth. But I see what Chris is saying, although it still works for me. The only thing about the background that I find distracting is the shape on the righthand side, above and to the right of that shoulder, which I keep trying to resolve into a head with one hand covering its forehead. For some reason it keeps drawing my eye toward it. Otherwise my eye travels where I suspect you want it to.

[Debra Jones]

...well I have a lamp, an easel and an Egyptian Mummy... is that more helpful?
dj*

[Leslie Ficcaglia]

Aha, it's the mummy! (Sounds like the title to a mystery novel...) Well, if it doesn't bother anyone else I'd leave it be. It may just be a personal quirk of mine, that I find it distracting. Thanks for shedding light on the subject.

Leslie