What do you think of this, guys?
 

THis oil is 40" x 30" and was done from life.

Just kidding!
 

Here is the reference photo. I took this photo on my movie camera at my granddaughter's ballet. I did not recognize her until just before the intermission, and I whipped out my movie camera just long enough to see the last three seconds before the lights went down! It was the only good shot of her. I didn't even know how it looked until I got home, and did a playback snapshot. I was thrilled with the photo. However, I think it made a better photo than a painting. Live and learn. Ever painted reds? They are very hard to photograph, and hard to paint. The photo of the pauinting does not show the color right.

Hi Lon-- just a few thoughts...
I find the way the right edge cuts the dancer(s?) in half disconcerting.... Maybe you want to lose that dancer? Also, the right arm of the little blond dancer in front forms an unfortunate tangent with the arm of the girl next to her... making it look like she's got one verrry long arm. Perhaps you could use one of the other upraised arms as a reference and raise her arm up just a little more vertically from the elbow to break the connection with the other girl's arm?

Excellent thoughts. I might try this painting again using a different hue. The printed version of this photo is an altogether different hue than the screen version, which I painted from. Unfortunately, I cannot show it to you. You would have to print it off to see the difference. It is wierd.

What, not really painted from life? And I thought you were the fastest artist in the West!

Haaaa!
 

Let me clarify: fastest "draw" in the west!. ;)

I changed it.
 

Thanks!

I like it much better this way Lon! :)

Yes, that's much better. I'm glad to see you back Lon, I've missed you!

Jean