[tone]

Hey, glad the board is back up. Please tell me what you think. I am still learning.

[Pat]

Your work needs more contrast. Why is it all so diffuse and foggy?

It looks like you're a little timid. Better to make a bold mark and have it be totally wrong than to be seized by indecision and lightly dab here and there, essentially accomplishing nothing. Make some mistakes! Then fix them as best you can. As long as you stay focused on how you want it to look (and repeating the above) you can't go wrong. Painting isn't about the act of scrubbing color, it's about the judgement you use to correct your errors and the visual record that process leaves behind. Well, maybe it's more than that --but you'd be well served to consider that.

Getting back to your work, did you have a firm idea in your head about how you wanted these to look? Lots of times artists neglect or half-ass this stage and they pay for it with indecisive work. BTW, the eye is coming along nicely in the first piece. The top part reminds me of the trash compactor monster in Star Wars. The body, however, seems under-realized. Keep working on it and I'll keep commenting.

-Pat

[tone]

Thank you! I have to say I appreciate your comments. I know what you are saying because I make these pictures and I feel like something is not right. It just does not feel finished.

Thanks again.