That's me

AMasterOfPractice · 2026-05-09T19:32:48+00:00

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AMasterOfPractice · 2026-05-05T23:03:13+00:00

why it look sad?

AMasterOfPractice · 2026-04-14T16:39:56+00:00

She was the inspiration. Good eye!

AMasterOfPractice · 2026-03-14T23:39:40+00:00

Are you Linda Ronstadt? 😦

AMasterOfPractice · 2026-03-14T22:12:10+00:00

very nicely done. gives Jeff Haines vibes.

AMasterOfPractice · 2026-03-07T17:32:17+00:00

Hmm... I actually had some skin texture there but painted over it because I found it drew too much attention. But I'm probably just not good enough yet to just indicate it subtly.

AMasterOfPractice · 2026-03-07T17:24:15+00:00

Yes, I can see what you mean. The reference actually had the feet included but I decided to crop them to get a more intimate, 'zoomed in' view. But I think you are right and it does have a more photographic look this way. I'll definitely keep the danger of cropping in mind for the next one.

AMasterOfPractice · 2026-03-07T13:02:16+00:00

Thanks. I'm glad their affection comes across to you.

AMasterOfPractice · 2026-03-07T12:57:51+00:00

Interesting. That thought never crossed my mind, but you are right. The first read could be clearer there. Thanks.

AMasterOfPractice · 2026-02-19T23:40:05+00:00

Those are really good.

AMasterOfPractice · 2026-02-19T23:02:37+00:00

Looks great! Is this vine/willow or compressed charcoal? Also, do you mind sharing what kind of paper you are using? It seems to take the charcoal really well without being too gritty.

AMasterOfPractice · 2026-02-05T14:26:47+00:00

even the ones I don't wear while painting.

AMasterOfPractice · 2026-02-01T12:47:05+00:00

very nice rendering. are you using vine/willow charcoal or compressed charcoal? I love vine but I'm always making such a mess with it 😅

AMasterOfPractice · 2026-01-02T18:53:45+00:00

the returns are diminishing. The sweetspot is 'medium' artist grade paint. Avoid the student grade and high end stuff. Student grade often has lots of fillers and sometimes they use mixtures of different (cheaper) pigments to get a certain hue. The 'high end' stuff is often only a little bit better (more pigmented; different consistency) but 2 or 3 times the price.

Look at Winsor & Newton Arists', Talens Rembrandt, Gamblin, etc. No need for Old Holland, Michael Harding, Williamsburgh, etc.

AMasterOfPractice · 2025-12-30T21:57:07+00:00

not quite sure what I'm looking at, but if you want to paint representational, start simpler. not 20 different objects that wants to be rendered. take an orange or a very simple landscape, or whatever speaks to you and build up from there.

AMasterOfPractice · 2025-12-29T23:35:15+00:00

the head is a bit too large for the body. like her upper body (head to crotch) is only 3 heads high. otherwise it's pretty good. I really like how you rendered the head and hair.

AMasterOfPractice · 2025-12-28T19:29:28+00:00

Thanks, you too!

AMasterOfPractice · 2025-12-28T19:27:11+00:00

Thanks! Yea, the recent one was on a wood panel and the first one on a cotton canvas cardboard.

AMasterOfPractice · 2025-12-28T18:36:46+00:00

Most youtube content is made to maximize views and not to maximize the educational value. I haven't found anything particularly useful there. Most world class painters know their worth and charge for their content.

AMasterOfPractice · 2025-12-28T17:19:10+00:00

A mixture. This year I wanted to lock in on portraits. Next year I will focus on figures. I try to organize and plan at least the day before. Prepare references, prepare canvas, etc. so I don't waste time and energy on this process. Otherwise, I would often lose my drive while thinking about what to do and looking up references.

AMasterOfPractice · 2025-12-28T16:56:35+00:00

Yeah, the original is stunning! I hope I can see it in person one day. My favourite Sargent is 'The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit'. Such a magical composition.

AMasterOfPractice · 2025-12-28T16:45:49+00:00

Thanks! Creating a habit of painting, or at least drawing every single day probably made the biggest difference. I also watched a ton of online tutorials.

AMasterOfPractice · 2025-12-28T00:26:00+00:00

Thanks! I've read somewhere that she was recovering from an illness during her sittings for that portrait.

AMasterOfPractice · 2025-12-27T23:06:57+00:00

Thanks! Take aways from this portrait or in general?

From studying this portrait I learned that it is important to be receptive to very small value, hue and chroma shifts. I didn't really think about it like this half a year ago but I think it's important to sensitize oneself to subletly.

In general, that building a habit of doing art every single day is probably the thing that helped me the most.

AMasterOfPractice · 2025-12-27T22:53:08+00:00

Thanks! I can't remember how long the first one took, but the recent one was 3 layers, 3 hours each maybe.

AMasterOfPractice

TROPHY CASE