Care To See A Duel Portrait?

Question

In life most of us come to forks in the road which will lead us off onto different paths, different destinations. Our perspectives on life are often forged before we come upon the forks. Still, being
intelligent creatures, we can reverse our tracks and take the path we instinctively know is right for us. Many don't. Instead, they settle on the path others expect them to take.

http://pics.livejournal.com/unmired/pic/00014z2p/g8

Here is Claire. One Claire has become more interested in how she looks and what people think of her. The other Claire is more interested in what she thinks and in what she thinks about herself.

Uh, Betty, it's not a drawing. It's a painting. Using only the colors of black and white. It's not supposed to look like a drawing.

Answer 1

Just to clarify (another poster's comment): Drawing refers to the use of "line" in general, which does happen in paintings. Formally, these paintings in particular are very much based on "drawing" and the use of line and line quality.

Clearly the point of this painting is not mimetic realism, and you are not trying to use "realistic" drawing/shading techniques, so the drawing criticism might be a little bit misplaced.

Answer 2

This is very inspirational! As I read the introduction I visualized myself the artist I am capable of being, versus the person sitting in front of a computer in the corner of her studio getting nowhere in her art. Maybe if I do a duel portrait of myself it will motivate me to keep on painting. Thanks for sharing this. Very nice!

Answer 3

Where's the duel? Pistols at 20 paces?

Answer 4

You're execution didn't live up to the build up. Quit philosophizing and practice drawing. (I mean that in the most constructive way possible.)