Thank you so much, Chris, Carlos, Heidi, Marvin, and Christi!
I appreciate your welcome and feedback! It means a lot!

Since I am still new at the forum and haven't done my homework very well, could anyone of you tell me where can one display a new work. Start a new thread? Add to an existing one? Thank you!

Marvin, I still need to get a Mahl stick support device. Can I get one when I see you back in the Fall?

All the threads in the Forum work the same as this one (some few exceptions -- the demo threads don't permit posted responses). Click on the section in which you wish to post -- say, "Oil Critiques" -- and then click "New Topic." Give your new topic (that is, new thread) a descriptive title in the window for that, and then type in the body of the post in the next window, and click "Manage Attachments" to post any images, same as in this thread, using the "Browse" and then "Upload" sequence. You'll have to be mindful of the file type requirements and size limits, specified in the window for managing attachments. Many failed uploads are due to oversized image files. Run your images through software (such as Photoshop) that can resize them to the 400 pixels wide and 600 pixels high limits. If your image is within those limits but still won't post, it may be a file compression issue -- contact a moderator to work it out.

To add to a thread, just go to any post and click "Post Reply." If you wish to respond to a particular post in that thread, click "Quote," in which case the post to which you're responding will be copied and reposted as part of your new entry. (Sometimes you don't wish to quote an entire post, but only a part of it -- as I've done with yours, above -- but that's a bit of "html markup" housekeeping that can wait.)

In any event, any time you're stuck, just email or send a private message ("PM" -- click on the moderator's name anywhere in the Forum and select that option from the menu that appears) to the moderator of the section in question.

Flladi, welcome! Love your work - your charcoal self-portrait is fantastic.

Hello Flladi,
Your work is strong, it will be fun to see your develop your portraits more. Glad to have your here! I like the drawing very much and the last painting is coming along beautifully, georgious skin tones...
Patty

Steven,
you've taken your time to explain the whole process in detail. You made the understanding of it so much easier for me, and I am grateful for that. Thank you!

Patty and David,
thank you so much for your kind words! I am surprised that the charcoal drawing has had such positive feedback for the most part.
Wish I could develop it a bit further but I feel a little limited...
It's soft charcoal and it smudges a lot and also loses strength as you go. I wanted to emphasize the highlights a bit more as well, but the paper itself is white, and the white sticks or conte crayon seem unable to overpower the charcoal and its dust.

Welcome, Flladi,

I love your work. It is inspiring and very alive. You have a supreme talent! I look forward to your participation and new posts.

Garth

Garth,
It's a privilege and an honor to be here!
I appreciate your kind words! Thank you very much!

Flladi

What a great introduction, your work is wonderful.

Verrrrrrry nice, Flladi,

Welcome!