Sally

[Steven Sweeney]

A plein air portrait in late fall in Wisconsin is not my idea of fun. Snow, icy rain, wind, leaves blowing on everything, a model who hates cold, and me in a back brace!

So what's the problem?

(In my entire life I never thought I - Montana raised, Minnesota resident when in the U.S., black-belt hater of being cold - would ever say it, but I haven't seen a real autumn and oncoming winter for a while, much less snow, and gosh, I sure do miss it. (I don't get spring's renewing energies after winter's challenge, either.) Reading your description is almost like hearing the U.S. national anthem played when you're far from home.)

If you're not starting out with reference material that you're in love with and can hardly sleep in anticipation of getting started -- instead of in dread of figuring out how you're going to pull it off -- stop the lesson. Regroup, and simplify. If you want informal, do a photo shoot in the kitchen, or the woodshed. Or focus on the portrait instead of the setting, let the background and context be merely background and context for now. A suggestion can be as powerful as a thesis, if deftly handled.

I have to say that I don't find any images at all posted in this thread. I don't know why -- were there any?. Maybe next time I sign on they'll be there. Sorry I can't speak to specifics.

[Michael Georges]

Steven:

Walk out your door and visit the beach for us today.

Jean: Looking forward to your underpainting.

[Jean Kelly]

Hi Steven,

Glad I could blow some cold Wisconsin air your way. I'm actually a cold weather person also, I just can't seem to get comfortable outside with this brace on. And if I'm not comfortable I can't draw. Since this is a learning experience all around I thought I would share some of the disasters along with plans and dreams.

Disaster #1: Sally talks, my brain shuts down if I have to do two things at once. It refuses to draw, paint, or connect in any way with my hand if I have to listen or speak back.

Disaster #2: The brace, enough said or I will start whining.

Disaster #3: Due to numbers 1 and 2, my sketches are horrible. I won't post something here that I know I can do better on. There will be time in the future for sketching something that I feel I can post with some pride.

Since this topic area is for concepts, I felt that I should post pictures or any preliminary work under their appropriate section. So you'll find photos under resources, when I'm ready to post the underpainting it will be under oil critique. I figure that the concept is in my brain so I'm trying to be verbal (quite a challenge for me)!

Fall in Wisconsin:

The aroma of an apple orchard and crunch of a good tart apple, leaves a foot thick crunching and rustling while you walk, crisp clean air, frost in the morn, rich reds, gold, and yellows under a brilliant blue sky, geese flying south in formation, squirrels stealing food and hiding it in trees, cinnamon, pumpkin, gourds and squash. I love fall in Wisconsin.

Close your eyes, Steven, and pretend you're here for a minute.

Jean

[Jean Kelly]

Hello again, There has been some resolution of my disasters. I spent the afternoon yesterday with Sally, and tried changing my perspective instead of trying to change her. She talked and expressed away while I only tried to see color and shapes instead of line. I put out my boxes of pastels ( I keep them in old check book boxes with a cushion of rice) and a supply of cheap paper in front of me. Then I got myself comfortable. If I lean in any way I can't breath, I need to breath so that became a priority!

I now have a collection of color and shapes, I know what they mean although they don't look like much to someone else. I also have a new gift from this experience. I have made a new friend.

I'm posting all this "stuff" for two reasons: First, where there is a will there must be a way. Problem solving skills are absolutely necessary for me to continue this work. Second, maybe someone reading this will get an inspiration or at least a chuckle out of the recording of "normal" life problems of a beginning portrait artist.

Jean

[Linda Ciallelo]

Jean, sometimes I find that when I verbalize a problem to others, I can see a solution more easily. It helps sometimes just to be able to "talk" about it to someone who knows what you're talking about. For that reason, these forums are incredibly valuable. For all of my 54 years, being an artist has meant being isolated. All that has changed now because of technology. Sharing your problems and solutions helps all of us. You never know who you will reach out there.

[Carolyn Ortiz]

Exactly! You are all reaching me! And I thank you!

[Jean Kelly]

Thanks, Linda and Carolyn.

I didn't think people were still reading my saga. Guess so, lots off views! Maybe I'm not the only one tripping and falling through this journey. I'm a new grandma again (for the third time)! Now I have a newborn to paint too. Another boy, that makes 3 out of 3. I see the spine doc tomorrow for the next type of torture he wants to impose on me.

Carolyn, I'm glad you're back and posting. I've missed you.

Linda, watch for an e-mail, I'm still trying to figure out how to put my beds on the computer.

Jean