Michelle
 

I have been a member of an open studio since the beginning of March and have been religiously attending with the hopes of becoming faster at capturing a likeness. Needless to say until now I have had to learn to stay focused enough before the buzzer went off signaling the model's break. It is both an exhausting and exhilarating experience.

This is the 1st three hour session work that I felt actually looks like the model.

Enzie, I know you are excited about the new acquired knowledge and rightly so. Marvin is a excellent teacher. I am quite impressed at the giant stride you have made in your art. Being that you have the pleasure to attend a open studio I would suggest you concentrate on accuracy of shapes and values and nothing else. As the saying goes if the foundation is solid and is built on solid ground then one has a good start. Sold ground you have, Marvin I am sure has given this to you now it is up to you to make your foundation solid.

This is excellent, Enzie, so strongly modeled and with nice color in the face. It looks like you were enjoying yourself.

Dear Enzie,

This open studio stuff is SO difficult. I really delight in the way you have been so economical with your value and forms - all holds together so well!

Dear Chris, Alexandra and Misha!

Thank you for your responses. I have attended open studios in the past, but always ended up being very frustrated with the overall results.

What makes this experience so much more enjoyable is that I now know what to look for and how to handle the so called "mud"syndrome, that rages rampantly like an inflectional disease through the studio.

With 33 brushes and a meticulously layed out palette, I have become the source of many a joke, especially by the more accomplished artists.

Yet with a smile and faith that in due time with hard work anything is possible, my battle against the clock continues.

That's an excellent start, Enzie! You have got so much accurate form and solidity with so few strokes, and I love your scumbling and use of flat areas (something Ilaria is using and talking about, and it makes so much sense). It really shows that less is more. Wow! Well done!

Excellent Enize! I like the composition and charactre in the face.