::Solon's stuff:: update!

**bhanu** · March 16th, 2007, 02:39 AM

Ahoy mr. Solon, thanksfor the dtailed crit. Can I reflect on your crits?
FIrst about the hair , hmm I never thoght of using other color than black fot the hair, thanks for the pointers.If felt the same thing about the closed shapes but I guess application was much harder.The eye part was a stupifity on my part, I did notce it when I was drawing but forgot about it .aboutthe shadow beneath the nose , it was againg more water in the brush hte the colors just spread, and I panicked , kinda. SOrry about the hard edges umm, will try harder next time. really loved your approach to the portratit learned a lot more just now. and about the AR rahman , like Anid said he is a musician and damn good at that.I mean hes not one those musicians who is associtaed to masala Indian movies. Hes stuff is quite contempary. The music is very modern, Btu I think hsi major achievement was the recomposing a national anthem"vande matram" heres the link for youtube(http://youtube.com/watch?v=BJ399KOoNRA) that was written during our freedom struggle. Really touching song. listen to his stuff at his site, umm its in hindi. and this song too http://youtube.com/watch?v=Sp6wUe9gMrw
HMm , I also want to reflect on the kinda rude and the reply to it.
I think the crit was in bad taste. first of all , the issue of copying heres my thought after we always the sum of all our influences so copying does take place consciously or unintentionally. Still i cannot see much likeness in solons and charles Reids work. /But i think the main hurting point was the use of "Pity" .I dont want anybody to pity me , and I think noone who has selfrespect would want that too. Now dont think I am trying to asskiss solon, but chriss didnt really ntocie all teh different style that solon has attempted , for example the art noveau style.and solons approach to portraiture is very versatle. he uses techniques and he also does direct painting. I have written a lot I guess, I am gonna go back and paint. Thanks for the tutoring Mr. Solon.

**Anid Maro** · March 16th, 2007, 02:42 AM

I think he was saying not that what you are doing is pitiful, but rather that Ried's work involves his own personal mannerisms that would be a pity for somebody else to copy. In other words, he was suggesting that you should branch away from Ried's style towards something more personal to you.

Again, I disagree with him, but I don't think he was trying to be insulting. Although I see now that your response had more to do with a misunderstanding (and, perhaps, not the best wording on Bennett's part) rather than a particular mindset.

And don't stop posting! No posting means no new artwork!

**Zesty** · March 17th, 2007, 07:38 PM

did you see my PM solon?

**tensai** · March 17th, 2007, 08:20 PM

man - i can't get over how i love seeing all the different approaches of water colour in here. well, not just the technique, but also the difference in roughness, tightness, compositions, colours, moods. it's a joy to see and exciting to foloow.

a recent favourite,
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/att...2&d=1173896710
but don't let that direct you into anything (i'm sure it wont).

**Chris Bennett** · March 18th, 2007, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by Anid Maro

I think he was saying not that what you are doing is pitiful, but rather that Ried's work involves his own personal mannerisms that would be a pity for somebody else to copy. In other words, he was suggesting that you should branch away from Ried's style towards something more personal to you.

Again, I disagree with him, but I don't think he was trying to be insulting. Although I see now that your response had more to do with a misunderstanding (and, perhaps, not the best wording on Bennett's part) rather than a particular mindset.

And don't stop posting! No posting means no new artwork!

Thanks Anid Maro - that's exactly what I was getting at.
Reid's work in oils is not terribly remarkable and you could easily confuse it with thousands of other competant painters. However, in watercolour he has found a medium and a way of handling it that allows him to speak naturally (to paraphrase his own term) and is very beautiful. Reid doesn't have a particularly strong figurative 'point of view' as does someone like Hopper for instance. What he does have, and what Hopper lacked (not that it mattered) is a strong and personal response to the sensual qualities of the watercolour medium. Solon has it too, that's why he appreciates Ried so much. I'm only suggesting that he looks deeper into himself to really get this working for him in a more personal way. An obvious example of the mannerism I was talking about, but not the only one is the meaningless, deliberate yet made to look 'chancey' splatters of paint that Reid uses to sparkle up his work from time to time.
I'm sorry that he took my remarks so badly.

**Solon** · March 18th, 2007, 08:28 PM

Thank you all for passing by. I love everyone xxx

Experimenting with watercolor and pastel on quarter cotton sheet. Self-portrait. about 2 hours.

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**bhanu** · March 19th, 2007, 01:59 AM

hah The firstupdate of the thirdpage And I am stoked.the update is really cool.The values are well put and I liek the feel of the overall painting , but you look a bit older than you are. I am comparing this to the pic you took for the first tutorial.I also like the intensity of the face portrayed by the colors.

**Solon** · March 19th, 2007, 03:38 PM

::Bahnu:: Thank you! I guess when I am pissed off like on this portrait I look older or I darw myself older...I need to talk about that to my psy.

Variation on a way too complicated lightned theme. Watercolor 45 min, pastel 30 min, watercolor/pastel 1h30.

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**Darktwin** · March 19th, 2007, 04:07 PM

wow, I really love your watercolors, keep up the great work!!

**Orbital** · March 19th, 2007, 04:11 PM

Amazingly helpful thread. Love it all! Keep it coming!

**bhanu** · March 20th, 2007, 03:11 AM

damn great.no crits about these .they look better than splendid.BUt as usual the watercolros are my fav.
Take care and please never stop inspiring us.

**Solon** · March 20th, 2007, 03:03 PM

::Bhanu:: thank you sir!

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**bhanu** · March 21st, 2007, 02:05 AM

waiayiayah,
Hehe its funny , you calling me sir(SIr , I am just a 19 year old guy).the watercolors are cool . But this time its the other study that takes the cake. looks like acrylics. Very yummy.
Please keep us updated......sir.

**Solon** · March 21st, 2007, 02:03 PM

::Eh bhanu, I am only 30 so I meet a lot of sirs everyday. The second one is gouache.

Watercolor and gouache on Arches 140 quarter sheet. In the style of Alex Powers one of my favorite artist. Thanks for looking

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**Call0ps** · March 21st, 2007, 07:02 PM

great work

i loved your guache works... nothing to critic only complemtns

keep sharing plz

**Solon** · March 22nd, 2007, 05:58 PM

::Call0ps:: Thanks for passing by!

fast one, bad drawing but I like colors.

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**Solon** · March 23rd, 2007, 03:29 PM

Study from William Whitaker, Watercolor and gouache for hair highlight on quarter cotton sheet. About 3 hours. Thanks for looking!

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**Zesty** · March 23rd, 2007, 04:09 PM

damn i like the last one.. sweet. thats a good point about the eyes, i never thought of that before.

**Bojee** · March 23rd, 2007, 04:25 PM

Love the last few posts, I actually kinda like the quick one. It's always good to see the hand of the artist in the work. Keep them coming.

**Pascallo** · March 24th, 2007, 02:42 PM

Hey Solon. Very nice work you do here! Was a real pleasure looking through.
You earn much respect for teaching and helping others!
I think I will steadily visit your book now.
You definitely know how to handle your element. So if you like please give me some crits to my watercolor in my sketchbook!

**Sybo** · March 24th, 2007, 07:01 PM

You have great control of light through your colour, my friend.

**mikehan!** · March 25th, 2007, 12:07 PM

Just finished viewing everything in here. Great sketchbook. The tutorials were really helpful.

**TheBeast** · March 25th, 2007, 12:21 PM

i just say:five tumbs up, and thanx for charing, i schould pay my watertaxes, and practis! thx 4 the tutorial, awsome.

greats, da beast

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...96#post1244096

**Call0ps** · March 25th, 2007, 02:28 PM

William Whitaker study looks just aswome. again good work! keep updating plz

**Solon** · March 25th, 2007, 03:56 PM

::Caustic:: Hi there, I am not sure I understand what you mean about eyes...

::Bojee:: Thank you. You should look at Sargent watercolors if you like to see the brushstrokes...its amazing.

:

ascallo:: Thank you for visiting! I am happy you found the tuts helpful...

:

ybo:: Thank you!

::mikehan!:: Thank you, I am glad this can be helpful

::TheBeast:: Eh thanks, practice is the key, do you have watercolors here...ill go check.

::Call0ps:: Thank you, always great to hear from you.

Unfinished portrait of my wife...a couple of washes to go.

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**Zesty** · March 25th, 2007, 04:47 PM

that you should make one eye less detailed than the other. if i remember right you said that on page 2?

**Wasker** · March 25th, 2007, 05:25 PM

Some fine pieces of art I must say. Very good hues and values.

**ronaldK** · March 25th, 2007, 06:14 PM

Man! you are one talented fellow =P. i really enjoy your sense of light and color. Have you ever tried working on digital media? i respect traditional a whole lot cause it takes true skills to control.

great tutorials man!

**Jane Radstrom** · March 25th, 2007, 06:46 PM

Solon, thanks for taking the time to post tutorials (with pictures and everything!). I learned an approach to watercolor similar to the one that you used in the indian guy's face. I'm going to go try the other one that you showed. I'll keep an eye out for new posts and tuts!