Thanks for your comments.

Yes Barb, I think you are right, I also think it is why I don't like commissions, I need to be moved to paint a subject not have it dictated to me.

Thank you Bergina

May I say your realism paintings are superb - I tried realism once and that was the last time - I just don't have the patience.
It must take you ages to finish one painting.

Karen

Thank you Barb and Rich for your inspiring comments. Here is something interesting - I tried a second portrait of her, but decided to cheat and trace an outline first from the original photo and then do the painting. Well you know what? It didn't work, the picture came out stilted and lacking in lif...

Thank you so much for the compliments - it's really appreciated.

Will have to try that sometime. We had an exercise once in drawing class where we had to draw our own faces blindfold - by touch. Was a bit weird, ended up with strange scribbles on the paper. After week of just drawing myself, not just this way but with a mirror as well, I ended up with a pretty go...

Ever gone through a struggle with your art and then had a eakthrough? Happened to me this morning. Last couple of weeks I have really struggled with the two paintings I started and i think i now know why. I had a good long look and a think about my earlier works(we talking 20 odd years ago before my...

Spoken like someone who has kids!

thanks so much for the lovely comments. It's really appreciated.

I used to work in charcoal, I have one drawing left from about 20 years ago which has to be my best to date. I wonder if I will ever get my standard back to that again - I m so out of practice. I will have to hunt around for it and upload it. But yes - charcoal is so lovely and black and I love the ...

Thanks for the positive comments.
Now I feel inspired to do more.

For years I told myself that I could not do portraits so I have avoided them. I have now decided that anything is possible so have been giving them a try. This is of my daughter Claire age one at the beach. Needless to say she is my favourite subject at the moment. I have done some sketches of vario...

This pastel is great. I am not not too great with pastels so consider me impressed.

Thanks - I do struggle with getting a full range of values, but if I spend too long on a drawing it starts looking overworked - so they are never really as good as I like. My rough sketches seem to turn out better than ones I try to make into finished drawings.Perhaps it is just getting more practic...

Thanks Kristina

Just had a look at your art - I am impressed!

ok thanks - I will try a higher resolution and then reduce afterwards.

I like it too though it is not as good as I would like it to be. I am more of a painter than a drawer but I think it is good to keep practicing my drawing skills. Any tips on how to get uploaded drawings to look decent? - I am scanning them in but the scanned image does not look as good as the origi...

Hi there. My name is Karen and I have just registered. Lots to see and do. I started off as an artist, did a fine art degree and all that but then stupidly gave it up for 20 years due to a lack of self esteem. I have now decided to take up art again - I have my own little studio at home which makes ...