Alex, ditto to Tom and Tom's ditto of Linda, well I just ditto everyone, this is wonderful!

I especially want to ditto on the wardrobe, wow this is a very formal painting outfit aye? ;)

Beautiful, Alex!
I especially like the intensity, you look ready to jump on the canvas.
Bravo!

Thanks, Marina! Ditto, Tom! Ditto, Beth!

Believe me, Beth, if you could see the kind of thing I wear every day, you would hardly think it is formal. This sweater is misshapen and old, though it once had class. I'm thinking of stealing my husband's denim apron. I really need something I can take on and off quickly. What do you wear when you paint?

Marina, glad to gear you actually like the intense expression. I was hoping the portrait wouldn't scare anyone.

Canvas Envy
 

Alex,

I have such a high degree of respect for your work that I must express how much I envy your canvas. Just the change in perspective (how the canvas sees you...) that this self-portrait offers, encourages me to look at self-portraits differently. I absloutely love the painting and the creative skill that it took to make this such a dynamite portait. My thoughts are already spinning off into new avenues and giving me the courage to try new ideas. Thank you for posting this. You are an inspiration.

Carol Norton

Oh, Carol!

You are so sweet to say these things! I'm thrilled that I can possibly inspire anyone. But come to think of it I'm inspired by other people's work, so if that leads us to think of our own new and better ways of creating, then we are all benefitting from seeing each other's work and raising the bar a little higher.

Alex: IT IS a little scaring ! But we know that it's just a picture and you can't really jump to splash us with paint, so it's OK...

HA!!!! This is Great Alex! I would have liked to have seen the brush as if it were about an inch from the canvas. Wonderful self-portrait!

Marina, are you really scared by ME? Really? See, Heidi is fearless. She's not afraid of a little paint.

This is wonderful, Alex!

Like Marina, I sense as the viewer that you are about to paint Me! :o

This is really very good and original.

Below is that sketch of you that came to be in a matter of minutes in last Monday's class. It's not so good of you but I had fun. Thanks.

Garth

Wow. As well as being beautifully painted, it really is very intense. I looked at it quickly last night without commenting and the image stayed with me for hours. That rarely happens. Amazing. Janet