I can't paint like anyone else
Gosh, those incredible faces painted by Bill Schneider make me feel I can touch the skin--they glow; they are sensuous; they win awards. And no secrets, he graciously teaches his painting techniques.
I'm working on a portrait commission of 2 children and thought painting those young faces a perfect time to try Schneider's so softly blended skin techniques.
He explains his process so well, and I followed each step. But it didn't look right. After glaring at my attempt for a few days, I realized: this is not the look my client commissioned--it doesn't look like my work! A big awakening: I can't paint like you, or like Bill Schneider, or Cuong Nguyen who paints supreme detail starting with green skin or Christine Swann who starts the light side with yellow pastels.
I've studied with these artists, and you know what? Their way of painting is what makes their work special, but it is not the way I can see my subject and progress through the layering of colors. It's not wrong, it's just the way each of can translate what we see.
My style, way of handling pastel and seeing the face, it's unique to me. I love the work of these other artists, but hopefully, you love the way I paint.
Even seascapes don't escape this comparison: I admire the work of Jeanne Rosier Smith, Lana Ballot, and the stunning seas of Erika Toliusis, but I can't paint like them. My work looks totally different: how I see and feel the water is queued to my own experiences and abilities.
That's what makes owning an original so great--it's a personal experience!
