An honest assessment

Michele Rushworth · 07-03-2005, 12:19 AM

Bear in mind this very important thought: You will be judged by the worst piece in your portfolio. Never let anything that you feel is not up to your high standards be seen by anyone. You are working on establishing a reputation as a consistent high performer.

Okay, here are the ones I would keep: The three I mentioned above, the painting of the woman in the green wrap seen from the back (but not the version showing her face in profile), also keep the boy with the blue light on the side of his face, the very young blonde girl (but fix the shape of the eye on our right). Of the black and white ones I would also keep the one shown above, the one of the boy and girl together and the seated nude shown from the back.

On your website I'd delete the sculpture section, the photography section, the new media section, the murals and the links section. None of them enhance your reputation. I'd also get rid of the blurred mouse-over effect.

I look forward to watching your progress.

Lacey Lewis · 07-03-2005, 12:40 AM

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply to this and for giving so much great advice. I hope you know how much it is really appreciated.

For my web site, I plan to use my new domain just for the fine art, and only the best of it. I do plan on having a links section on that site, too, but I want it to be art related and have links to things like an essay by Virgil Elliott titled Restoring Prestige to our Profession.

I do plan to keep the one I have now, but only for web design and logo examples... what can I say, it brings in money! I will not have a link from my fine art site to this site. Eventually, I'll get rid of the other stuff completely.

I'm so excited! I feel lucky because so few get the chance to pursue what they really want, and also feel good about all the hard work I've been doing.

Elizabeth Schott · 07-03-2005, 02:40 AM

Lacie if you have the heart the other things will fall into place. You have a good start and the points made by Michele are very valid but don't let them overwhelm you. If you are anything like most of us just getting out you will be producing tons of work (In a few years you'll want to go collect it because of the progress you have made).

As related to this site... your benefits here if it is your intention to strive to be an SOG ARTIST, status are so worth the time. There are many talented artist here that are so generous in what they give you and you will find yourself treating them as personal relationships as you grow. The key words are as you grow, because you will, it's the practice practice practice and tips on tools and materials and lighting. They all somehow come together.

March foreword... I know there are a group of Ompalompas that work for Cynthia and when your are ready she will grab you . It's a great feeling to be grabbed by the way, lucrative too!

Now no laughing, I am posting one of my first commissions. I think I was paid 400.00 and the mother gave me everything down to a catalog for the clothes, live and learn. Well I told her I wanted to redo them no charge, because of high traffic, so hopefully you will see a difference. I also charge 3200.00 for this type of 3/4 view. These are pastels, the earlier is on Canson, the latest is on Wallis.

Tricia Migdoll · 07-03-2005, 04:57 AM

Hi Lacey,
it is a really good question. I do not have the experience to answer you, but i am interested in hearing the views of the professionals.

I have received advice recently about pricing my own work which is new to the market. The advice basically went that i should judge for myself, my level of competancy compared to what is out there in the galleries. After all, we really only have our own taste to go by, so I think this was good advice.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes for you.

Allan Rahbek · 07-03-2005, 05:38 AM

I am also at the threshold of announcing my portrait busyness and am grateful for those advices.

I think it

Lacey Lewis · 07-03-2005, 11:12 AM

Thanks to everyone for the great replies! It's so nice to be part of such a wonderful community.

Elizabeth, I definately have the heart! I have been interesed in the figure and portraiture since... I don't even know when. I remember drawing a portrait of my baby-sitter's daughter when I was about 7. I used a bingo-dabber to make the rosy cheeks, and used lipstick for the lips. Hah! Now, I spend a minimum of 20 hrs per week actually painitng or drawing and I don't know how much time on top of that researching and trying to learn more. I don't think I could stop if I wanted to.

Thanks also for the encouragement. I'd post my first attempt at an oil portrait, but (caugh, caugh) I'd rather not! Luckily, I haven't done any of these under commission, except for a football mura for a kids room.

Tricia, that is what I find so difficult: judging my level of competency. I know that people say they love my work and are so impressed with it, but they also said that when I was in high school! I can see where I have developed above an amature or hobbyist level, but really can't tell where I fall amongst anything above that.

Great advice, Allan. I am trying to constantly remind myself to always have control over my work... like not painting something that I would not normally paint or in a style that is not mine. I don't think I will have the studio problem for now, because I don't have a studio and my house is in an area of town that potential clients might not want to travel to. But I do agree that I need to show only my best, and have prices set so that I don't feel I have to give a low quote.

Thanks all again! I look forward to learning and growing from what I learn here.

Michele Rushworth · 07-03-2005, 11:43 AM

Quote:

I spend a minimum of 20 hrs per week actually painting or drawing and I don't know how much time on top of that researching and trying to learn more. I don't think I could stop if I wanted to.

As far as time spent researching, I have a suggestion: If you have the time or inclination, and it sounds like you do, I highly recommend spending an hour or two a day for the next few months studying all the past threads in this forum. All the critiques, all the materials and techniques sections, all the marketing posts, and especially all the threads on how to photograph people to get good reference photos.

Without a doubt, this forum got me to where I am now in my portraiture career.

Lacey Lewis · 07-03-2005, 12:44 PM

I think I already spend an hour or two per day reading through the forum

or going through links I find on the forum. The rest of the time I am looking through library books. I get books on the masters and books on technique, though I think I've gone through all the books on technique that are of any value (picked up Chris Saper's book a few times!) that are in the library's collection. Now I am looking at the books reccomended here and there on the forum and looking for books and videos by my favorite living artists and am going to start buying. (Will take reccomendations, as well!) Hopefully in the near-ish future I will be able to travel for workshops, too.

I am very glad that I chose to dedicate myself to what I love, even though it takes sacrafice financially.