Cadmium free and loving it.

[Marvin Mattelson]

I feel that I am perfectly able to create any color effect I desire using about ten colors. On the odd chance I need to make a particular color outside the range of my palette I will add the appropriate color. This hasn't happened in the last four years since I've devoted myself to portrait painting. I certainly haven't had the desire to reach for Cadmium anything.

A good chef uses less ingredients not more.

I try to create timeless and tasteful paintings. I myself am not attracted to gaudy, loud or overstated artworks. Why would I want to create something against my very nature? My palette serves me very well and my clients seem quite happy.

In terms of my participation here, I believe I have a valid point of view to express based on my thirty plus years as a professional artist and teacher. I enjoy participating in a forum environment and hope that my insights could potentially be useful to others.

I think that expressing an opposing opinion for the purpose of clarification is healthy. I would never just jump into the middle of things for the sake of merely bandying my name about or trying to give myself exposure. Almost every post I have contributed here contains solid information.

I don't understand how the number of paintings I do has relevance in this discussion. I hope the quality of the work I produce speaks for itself.

[Celeste McCall]

Dear Marvin,

Your paintings speak loudly and clearly.

Your work is unparalleled for its unity, beauty, realism, etc..

[Marvin Mattelson]

Thank you Celeste. You are too kind. I'm very touched by your heartfelt praise and I really appreciate it.

[Celeste McCall]

Dear Chris,

These should be deleted anyway in my opinion as personal attacks are very offensive to those of us who read this. Decorum is always the victor in any debate.

[Timothy C. Tyler]

Celeste, contradictions are offensive too. Yet, this is a sharing and learning site. Through fair exchange and conversation we artist can work through the many styles, forms and methods employed. Truth is good, knowledge is good. If I attend a lecture by an expert, I'd expect to see his credentials.

[Marvin Mattelson]

The opinions I express are those of my own. I'm entitled to have them and express them. The thing that is both wonderful and baffling about painting is that there are multitude of approaches and paths to follow.

In my thirty plus years as a teacher I have developed a method of working and teaching that has allowed both myself and others to feel they have reached levels of competence that at some point seemed inconceivable. That's a pretty exciting thing, as far as I'm concerned.

Generally my students are very loyal and appreciative based on their appreciation for the knowledge they've received from me and the growth it has spurred.

My methods may run counter to the theories and philosophies of other very successful and talented artists. It is my theory that its the tremendous innate talent of most successful artists which allows them to succeed in spite of their technical and theoretical approaches.

More importantly, I see the vast majority of artists struggle, to a large degree, because they use too many and too powerful pigments on their palettes. So I have devised a teaching strategy based on giving the greatest number of people a the best chance to succeed.

There are obviously other aspects of painting that come into play so what I've tried to do is break down every area involved in painting into what I call an "idiot proof" approach.

I really don't care if I am perceived as someone marching to the tune of a my own drummer. Many of the truths I've found have come as a direct result of seeing what most people do and then looking the opposite direction for a better answer. I see that a great number of what artists do today fly in the face of what previous master artists seemed to do. I take nothing for granted in my quest for the best answers. I also don't care to play the gallery game and be in who's who or anything else. I let my work speak for itself. I'm only interested in being the best artist and teacher I can be.

Just a side note, this past summer Steve Assael, one of the most respected realistic gallery artists in America (Forum Gallery) sent his son to my workshop to "get him started on the right track."

I do, however, enter portrait competitions because it gives me status in the portrait community and most importantly, with clients. I am, after all, a portrait painter first and foremost, which is why I participate on this forum. Even though I have been one of the top award winning portrait artists in the last four years it doesn't make my paintings one drop better or worse. At the end of the day my work is what it is.

[Celeste McCall]

Dear Tim and Marvin,

I really appreciate all that both of you do on this forum. You make it interesting to us because you have a very definite opinion and that is refreshing and welcome. I also enjoy all of your paintings.

Color theory and individual palette styles are just that. No one is right and no one is wrong. Each has their own way and each will promote the one that they prefer.

People also have preferrences as to color. Some like not so much color and others love nothing but color. So you are both right.

We like and respect both of you very, very much. And we love hearing both of your opinions because they often conflict though usually very fun and entertaining for us, the audience. It's a vivid contrast of opinions. It would be rather dull if we did not have both of your input.

The fact that both of you are brave enough to speak up frankly makes it so delightful for the rest of us. And it helps in education. We will test all theories and then see what works best for us. But we for sure want to hear both sides so please, both of you, keep giving us your opinions about all things relating to painting.

Each of you will never know how much the rest of us really appreciate the sharing of knowledge that both of you give to this forum.

[Celeste McCall]

Dear Tim,

This forum wouldn't be half as much fun for me if you didn't confront or disagree with a lot that I have said.

I am learning from you by your confrontation. It makes me study more. I very much appreciate it when you don't agree with things that I might say. I love it, in fact.

Why would I say them on a forum if all I wanted was, "you're correct in that assumption, Celeste." That's no fun. It doesn't make me see another person's point of view. Your disagreements with me have been very educational. Thank you for each one that you posted.

Both of you are very much fun for the rest of us in the forum. Like I said, you both will never realize how much we all appreciate both of your input.

[Renee Price]

Thank you Chris for stepping in. I agree with Celeste that ALL offensive posts should be deleted. Not just the ones in this thread. I disagree with Celeste in saying that she finds this 'debating' refreshing and delightful. I find it revolting and immature. Many people have stopped coming to this forum, much less posting on this forum because of the numerous refreshing delightful debates. This statement is supported even more after reading the emails I've received. Different views are fine and even passionate ideas can be discussed in a civil way. Everyone can learn from different views, but not when they're served with a side of sarcasm and insults.

Renee Price

[Lynn T. McCallum]

I am so pleased with my palette. It may only be oil that is mixed with ground up, dirt, rocks, and sometimes vegetable matter but it serves my purpose.

For years I searched for a palette that was kind to my sensitivities and sensibilities. I went to museums and read books.... but alas, to no avail. It took one demo with Marvin to convince me to place my cads in a drawer until needed for a flower or a fabric color. My search is over.

The search is never over for better compositions, subject matter, and draftsmanship, but for the time being it's nice not struggling like I did before with my flesh tones. There will be room to expand on my new palette later, but as it is, I haven't enjoyed painting like this in years.

Just had to pass that on and maybe get back on track to where this thread started.

Marvin's direction has helped me a lot. It may not be for others but the results I am creating now in my paintings are so very pleasing.

Lynn