- Dan

Thanks for your comments! Regarding the Bargue course, yes, it’s true – I’ve only done a bunch of eyes. In fact, I haven’t even finished the first plate entirely! However, it really did make a difference in helping me to observe better and be more patient.

You have to remember, I didn’t just draw those eyes quickly and then move on. I worked as hard and as slowly as possible to match the original drawing EXACTLY by using the sight-size technique. Those eyes took hours and hours to complete, and I even did some of them twice. After I was finished, I would make a copy of the original on tracing paper and compare it to mine. If it was too inconsistent, I would do it again.

I think it’s more about the amount of effort you put into the Bargue course that makes it truly helpful – but that’s true of any educational pursuit, right?

I’m glad to see that you’ve gotten the oil-painting bug! You need to e-mail me some photos so I can see what you’ve been working on lately.

your description of the process was a captivating read as always, thanks! It is inspiring to read about the thinking process and techniques that go into a good picture. What a wonderfully creative piece this is, and you really achieved the poster vs. real person effect. I am really surprised how well this works together. Her expression is great, and you managed the difficult areas (shirt, eyeglasses) well. Your drawing is (to me) very professional-looking. I could never work that patiently in black&white, now oil is a different story.
You say you did benefit a lot from your Bargue exercises. Come on, how many have you done – just a bunch of eyes, right? Did it make that much of a difference?

Say hi to Rachel for me!
Susanne

Happy New Year to you as well! Thanks for the nice comments – I’m glad that you like the new look of the site. I’ve been doing a lot of reading before I progress with the painting of Rachel in the mirror. I want to make sure I’m going about it correctly before I ruin it!

I’m really glad to hear that you’re pursuing landscape painting – and from a teacher. That’s the best way! By the way, I saw your Fragonard copy on WC and I strongly disagree with the notion that you’re not improving. It was very impressive! Also, I’ve heard lots of good things about the Schmid book. I’ll probably pick it up someday. Although I don’t use the direct painting method a lot, I still think it’s a very important method to learn. Each method has it’s own uses and I think a well-rounded artist should know and practice them all. All the best to you in your landscape lessons – I want to see some of the results!

- Dan

Let me take this (late) opportunity to wish you a Happy New Year, to Rachel and yourself.

Big surprise today to see the new face of your website. I like it a lot, and among the drawings you added to the gallery I really like your self-portrait! Did you progress any further with the “Rachel in the Mirror” painting?

Your writing about artistic growth makes me a bit jealous (or sad), I in a way feel some growth as well but don’t have much to show for it except a lot of talking and reading. For this February, I have an invitation to come visit a landscape painter I know (I used to send him painting DVDs from the US), and he will give me some introduction to landscape painting (yes!) I am also reading Richard Schmid’s book Alla Prima (pretty hard to get a copy here in Europe) – although he is writing strictely about direct painting rather than the classical indirect methods, his book is full of great advice, and I much admire his landscape paintings.

Susanne

- Dan