Addendum
I forgot to mention in my last post a few things, so here's the ketchup:
Friday was my first night back at the Art Student's League, I had taken the month of December off, which meant I hadn't painted since Thanksgiving. Felt good to paint again, we had a great model and I actually enjoyed being frustrated with color and light. I decided that I am going to be very point blank with Oldrich, my instructor. Oldrich's class is very loose, all skill levels are there, so he really doesn't rip or critique people unless you really ask for it. So, I am determined to ask for it now. I asked whether my colors were right (African Americans are difficult to paint - matching the skin tone in addition to getting the warm/cool of the light source is tricky as hell - for example the woman I painted was lighter skinned, almost an olive complexion). Painting is the opposite of drawing in some ways - with drawing - a highlight is against a dark shadow, that creates contrast. You add white for strong highlights, not in painting. White can dilute a painting, so you have to find a light color that contrasts your shadows. Not easy. Oldrich came by and within 5 strokes pulled the face stronger, using colors I would never have thought of. Once again, I felt like my students, "Jesus you did that so fast, you make it look so easy". Oldrich smiled and said "Oh, it's not easy" he nudged me "Okay, you can go home, I'll finish this up" and he smiled. By the end of the class, though, I think I worked out a lot of the issues and it wasn't a bad painting. I just have to paint a hell of a lot more.
There is a girl in my class who I seriously have to stop myself from calling comrade. She's a super nice girl from North Dakota but I swear to god she looks like a female Russian soldier from World War II - like spitting image - of some of the photos I have seen from the fall of Berlin. Strong chiselled face, able bodied, page boy haircut - not unattractive at all....but I want to see her wear a babushka and a Kalishnakov and shout Marxist theory.....and this is sooooo why I am single.
Anyhoo, Comrade Michele was painting next to me, as I am wrestling, she comments "Wow, that's really nice". I thanked her, looked at hers, and her portrait sort of looked like a dead James Brown. She has a good eye though, and helped me work the model's sweater, saying "I'm stopping because I am at the point where I like it but if I continue I'll fuck it up". This is the tough thing about my class, there are some talented people, there are some not so talented people and then there are people who are just doing weird downright fucked up stuff. Yet everybody is warm, friendly and happy to see you. Two seats in front of me, is the Asian woman who nails out these STELLAR potraits every week. Around the room are Rocky - the strange woman who gets bombed on wine and paints these very intresting portraits using almost neon colors. Nick is a super sweet old guy from Sparta, Greece who paints these ghostlike potraits that look nothing like the models. Another regular makes people look like burn victims. There is a woman with a hunchback who is on my right, she paints very academically, very strong work, and she has a great sense of humor. I kept dropping stuff out of my pockets, my metrocard, train ticket, my class ticket, my paint brushes and she kept noticing and picking them up for me- She said to me "You are like Santa Claus, keep dropping things, I can go to Florida".
On the way to the ASL, I often stop in McDonalds in Penn Station before jumping on the 1&9 for Columbus Circle. I have a pet peeve with people who are mean to folks who work in McDonalds. Yes, people may not be the brightest, quickest, or most competent - but it's a fucking McDonalds - not the Four Seasons. This woman was just being nasty to the woman at the counter, for no real reason. "Is this going to take you much longer" the woman snapped as the counterperson was finishing her order. I wouldn't wish my worst enemy to work in McDonalds, especially in Penn Station. The place is busy as hell, most of the workers are immigrants and they are busting their ass for 7 bucks an hour.....in short, this job totally sucks. After the woman had gone, I patiently waited for the woman to finish my order and I smiled at her and thanked her. She smiled back an appreciative smile that said "Thanks, I'm getting my ass killed back here and people are psycho".
And now we are caught up. GO GIANTS!