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Student’s work

imageSorry I could not turn this, I am working on my iPad, don’t have a photo program available. This is an UNFINISHED painting by one of my students. I want people to see what can be accomplished. The woman who did this work told me she wanted to be able to paint portraits of her grandchildren. She also was convinced that any attempt would end in failure. My first challenge was to help her believe that it would be possible for me to teach her techniques that she could successfully apply. As I go over the day’s lessons and the students learn what to do, they never fail to be amazed. Some of them have been through four years of college as art students. Some have gone to specialized art training or taken a variety of studies from different teachers. They tell me they never learned any thing similar. All I can tell you is that my method is an accumulation of processes that slowly came together from my search for the information that would help me achieve a realistic and beautiful portrait. At first I could only study portraits when I got to places such as museums, libraries or other public places. Then I had some occasion to research and find information about the old masters and their methods. There may be a lot of this info out there but it was not readily available to me. After my kids were grown I began to do a few very bad paintings and about that time I also had the opportunity to question some good artists about their methods. As I looked for teachers I was discouraged because even though they produced good work, their methods were very far different from the ways I wanted to use and had been researching. I finally found a teacher in Florida whose outcome pleased me and who had a similar vision. I learned a lot from him but his technique was far different. Mostly I learned to put continued effort into my own process. I used all these examples to refine my technique. Now, I find I am able to pass along to others the things I have taken so long to learn for myself. I look forward to holding regular classes for people who have a deep desire to paint portraits in a realistic fashion. Contact me if you are one of these people. Shalom

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