Developing As An Artist. Themed Thread

Here is one from my "Revival" Series where I take old paintings I did as a kid and do a new version to show personal growth, the original was done when I was 15.

Oh cool, Maria. Glad you started this. Do we get to keep this one? Should we cut and paste from the closed thread?
-- mary ellen anderson

Yes, Mary Ellen, you can cut and paste :)). Perfect example Shana. How do you feel about the two images? My first impression is the looseness, in the earlier piece which is quite nice, but evidence of technical skill is obvious in second go, more depth, tighter, I find it interesting that I find myself entering your mindset, in that I mean, the innocence then the wiser, more knowledgeable and experienced woman.

Shana,
That's a great idea, and exceptional growth.

Here's my cut and paste (that apparently got the thread shut down - opps)

first oil - age 6



cardboard art - age 8



just before going pro age 16


--mary ellen anderson

Shana, what I noticed was the wonderful color development and of course light.
-- mary ellen anderson

Thank you Maria! My thoughts on this and others from my series is similar to your thoughts in tour opening post. While I am really pleased with my technical growth, part of me will always love the innocence and looseness of my earlier pieces. More carefree.

@ Mary Ellen, thank you! Two of the things that I have worked hard to develop over the years is my attention to light and color theory, I'm happy to hear that it is evident in this piece!! I love your examples! Great to see your work through the years! Even at a very young age you showed a lot of talent!

Thought I would post this one here, I haven't done any painting for a while, especially watercolours, I thought I was good at painting details but this try out reveals not so much. I have labelled attempts from 1-7. I will leave you to name the flower, if you can :)



Anyone know why this us upside down and how I can put it right?

Got up this morning, took a look at the painting, it looked so much better in good light, that's why I couldn't,t see the details, I painted it under electric lighting which may not have been very strong, also, I photographed it in that light, don't tell Rich Franco! I am going to add to the page with flowers done in daylight. And I will solve the upside down image.

Mary Ellen, love your development, the figure painting of the boy, done at a young age reveals your ability, it's great that you still have the vase to compare the rest of your work with. :)))

Maria,
I'm glad you mentioned the upside-down image, because now I don't feel so stupid for turning my laptop over - lol. Interesting even though watercolor was the most popular when I was learning and certainly the predominate medium among my mentors, I an oil painter thinker. So my watercolors end up looking more like oils than watercolors. So I admire anyone that can think in the 'negative' that watercolors requires. Do you use ink for your outline?

I at least had an amazing opportunity as a kid. At the time I did my little brother I'd been apprenticing for 3 years. I had long ago forgotten all of these pieces but they were in my mom's stuff when she passed away last December. So quite the pleasant stroll down memory lane.

Surly there are more of us willing to bond in embarrassment;) Come-on bring out your mom's pics of 'you naked in the bathtub' as a young artist.
and hurry, we only had a couple days - right?
--mary ellen anderson

We have six days left! I hope to find the time to show the portrait development, which is probably the most obvious in my work. Nice finding all that old work. Pity about the circumstances though.