OP Challenge Sept 2011

[VickiB]

Flyingroc – great attempt on Lin she’s definitely got me stumped this challenge

AI2ai – I like the expressiveness of this sketch, you have captured her well.

Hi Paul, like the vivid eyes and the mouth is excellent!

Hi Charri, I like how you’ve brightened up the reference image and welcome

Hal, excellent fruit very subtle.

Well done everyone

[ai2ai]

Been busy lately, here's WIP, hope to tweak the skin tones a little better later. Very beautiful Fruit-bowl Hal. Like your expressive style Vicki, well done.

[Pat Isaac]

GREat color and energy in this portrait. What kind of OPs did you use? Looks like an oil painting.

Pat

[halthepainter]

Vicki B. great job on the portrait, a very interesting style.

ai2ai, also a super job on the portrait.

Wow Lin so many great portraits for you. On my the next challenge, that I host, I'll have to submit my photo and see if I can squeeze out a free portrait.

[Pat Isaac]

You really nailed the poertrait ai2ai.....

Pat

[oldrockchick]

Phew I didn't know so many people would go for the portraqit this month - I thought the luscious fruit would have been the most popular - it was my choice, if I ever get it finished , and nobody went for the building...

Vicky - well done on opting for the challenge - Rolf would be proud I especially like the eyes. Well done great.

ai ai - what can I say - you've doen a great job with the likeness, and I love the way you've taken a few years off too. (My vanity is sinful ). - can't wait to see it complete... going so well so far.

I posted the portrait not for vanity reasons - just it was a large clear close up person photo, and I though it was time we tried one. Skin tones can be a real challenge.

[Sandra39]

Hal- I haven't been back here for awhile since my husband's illness. I occasionally looked in. I love your fruit bowl. Very beautiful and somehow the scene feels mysterious and solemn. It must be the dark BG. It looks like some photos I have seen in the classic books.
Old master indeed!
You should be proud!
And I am proud having you as a friend.

Sandi C.

[halthepainter]

Friend Sandi, thank you so much. I pray your husband is doing well now???

[ai2ai]

Find it hard to get the skin tones right...anyway I enjoyed the challenge, hope you like it Lin.

[ai2ai]

Pat, the op I used is just student grade about 5 or 6 sticks, perhaps I should get more range, quite limited at the moment.

[halthepainter]

ai2ai you did a fantastic job.

[Pat Isaac]

I think this is great for your limited palette. The skin tones are fine.

Pat

[oldrockchick]

I managed 2 hours today on mine and managed to finish my bananas

[E-J]

ai2ai, your portrait of Lin is fabulous - you really seem to have captured her likeness, but more than that, you've gone beyond the stern expression in her photograph to something softer. I think it is a lovely thoughtful portrait. and with a few student-grade sticks?? Wow. Thanks for posting your progress, too. Your initial drawing was wonderful in itself.

It's been fun to see a variety of takes on the image (Paul's Asian-inspired version, and flyingroc's bold colours, Vicki's "Rolf" version with those dashes and stabs of blue and turquoise - spot on!) and like Lin, I'm surprised most people opted this month for what appeared to me to be the most daunting subject. That's the great thing about this thread, I guess. It is a safe place in which to challenge ourselves.

I also enjoyed the contrast of Hal's Old-Masters-style fruit with Charri's bright, cheerful version. But I'm amazed nobody tried the cat! That was the one I'd printed out, fully intending to participate, but September has been eaten up by the whole back-to-school-and-work thing, and I've also been trying to finish up a few other OP bits and pieces.

Lin - it's great that's you finished your bananas! Hope it didn't drive you bananas painting them and that you're feeling better today and will be able to share them with us soon.

Great work everyone!

[oldrockchick]

Ai Ai - with being banned on and off - by WC lol - beign tired and doing quickie posts I failed to post on your final portrait of me.

I think it is excellent!!!! you've done a fantasitc job


I'm not really stern - it's just that it was sunny and my eyes are really sensitive to the sun. I take my glasses off for a photo and he takes so long I end up trying not to squint - then I look annoyed lol.

HAL - we would love to do a portrait of Sir Hal - do please post yoru portrait!!!!

I'm so tired to day I'm not sure if I'll get my OP finished before I go to the Lakes.it's way too hot to work on it today.. It's almost 30 deg today! PLUS all I want to do is sleep. I was up and out by 9 am today as I had a 'gig' providing music and announcemts for an event at the hospital.

The thread remains open so if some of you haven't finished or want to 'have a go' still you CAN post after the next one has started.

Thank you all for joining in and TALLY HO for the next challenge.