Better

Beach Guy, Graphite, 6 x 8, TMDD Series 2015

All points line up and he is solidly seated on the side of that lounge chair with no danger of falling over.  I was happy--then I got interested in the patterns of light on his anatomy and may have gone too dark?   I stopped.  Values were not what I was after today;  points and associations were the goal.

Ellis said I was way too harsh in my criticism of yesterday's attempt.  He must be right; he never comments on my work.  Nevertheless, I still don't think so.  I think we have to be able to look at our work and see it  objectively with trained eyes unclouded by the fact that we made it. All that talk about stepping way back to get a clearer view of our subject and our handling of it is to move  away from personal attachment and apply what we've learned about form, values and colors over years of study and doing.  We subtract ourselves by looking at our work from a distance, through mirrors and up side down to get an objective perspective from which we can make judgments as to what needs doing, as to finish? Our skills are honed by our truthfulness.  What was good enough for Ellis, was not good enough for me.