[Bryan Mccabe]

Thanks Deborah. Yes, it’s great that we are learning together 🙂. I’ve tried watercolor a couple times, and I found it to be incredibly difficult to control the flow of water/paint. I want to try the water soluble crayons because I could get the colors looking right using the normal coloring technique, and then add a bit of water to make them look like watercolor paintings. I still feel like my most natural preferred medium is pastel, but I want to get soft pastels instead of oil pastels. I also gravitate towards pastel artists stylistically, with some of my favorites being Degas, Gauguin, Mary Cassatt, Millet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Renoir. I also really like some of the new work being done with mixed media, such as using Golden acrylics. If you are interested, I recommend checking out Jean Pederson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNpU4dr8qGY
I’ve found the mess from oil painting to be more of a problem than the smell. I use odorless Gamsol. However, you still have to be careful about ventilation. I also recommend only using Gamsol to clean your brushes, and use M. Graham’s Walnut Oil or safflower or linsead oil to use as you are painting. I have separate sealable, leakproof jars for each.

[Bryan Mccabe]

Thank you for the compliments and encouragement  Christopher🙂. I completely agree with everything you said. I’m at a point right now where I’m just wishing there were more hours in a day to read all the art books, watch all the lectures on here, and also have time to draw and paint, and experiment with different mediums and techniques. Things have been a bit hectic for me lately with moving and a new job, so I haven’t been able to put in as much effort as I usually do.

[Bryan Mccabe]

I completely agree Deborah 🙂 Eventually, I want to start focusing on creating my own works of art, but I’m trying to acquire as many skills as I can first. I read a while ago that Van Gogh did all the Barque plates twice. Kind of interesting because I don’t usually associate his work with drawing accuracy. It shows that learning all these skills are valuable, even if you choose to go in a more modern/abstract direction at some point.

[Bryan Mccabe]

Day 18. A sketch of a portrait by Ingres. I tried this one my last challenge I think. I found it very difficult. Hopefully it is a little more accurate this time 🙂. 

[Bryan Mccabe]

Thank you Deborah 🙂 I might have a bit of a distinctive style developing, but I’m still struggling with deciding what to draw/paint when I’m not doing master studies. I’m really impressed by your latest perspective studies. I’d like to work on some of that when I have the time.

[Bryan Mccabe]

Looks good 🙂

[Bryan Mccabe]

Thank you Joshua. I will work on it.

[Bryan Mccabe]

Thank you Erik. I didn’t see your corrections until after I finished this drawing, but I see what you are saying about the nose and centerline, and I’ll keep it in mind next time.

[Bryan Mccabe]

Day 17. Here is the finished study. I had a very busy day today, so I had some trouble focusing, and I messed up some of the details, especially one of the eyes. 

[Bryan Mccabe]

It looks really good. I can see how hard you worked to get there 🙂

[Bryan Mccabe]

Day 16. Here is my drawing for a study of “Talcott Williams” by Thomas Eakins.

[Bryan Mccabe]

Thank you Deborah 🙂 The portrait painting course is excellent. The instructor takes time to explain why he does things beyond just how to do them. He uses a different approach to painting than I do, but I’m still learning quite a bit.

[Bryan Mccabe]

I like your style and I agree that the brown paper is working for you. I’m also using very cheap materials at the moment, trying to get a lot of mileage for little money. I think the important thing is to be aware of your natural preferences and what methods work for you, as well as your artistic style and vision, and eventually figure out how to put it all together. For example, if you prefer brown paper, you could tone a canvas brown or just work on archival brown paper or board. I like your use of red against the brown background. You could keep exploring that style as you transition to new mediums.

[Bryan Mccabe]

Day 15. Paul Gauguin portrait master study complete. I feel like I’m starting to figure out the Crayola crayons a bit. 

[Bryan Mccabe]

Day 52 is heavy. I’m surprised they let you paint that. Keep up the good work 🙂

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