[chicoartist]

Thanks for the comments - good and not so good always welcome here. I'm certainly not above "taking suggestions" and "reminders". Means you guys are paying attention!

Besides, you'll never even come close to the bone-jarring critiques I got in my early days, from none other than Keith Ferris and other luminaries in person - so keep trying! People have been known to quit painting after going through the "grinder" (partner, you ask for a critique - that's what you get! ... but it's fair, and constructive if you have the right attitude) at ASAA Forums!

I must remind you, however, that the entire image of *this* study is about the size of a standard 4 x 6 inch photograph! You know, like back in the day when you used to have your, uh, what's it called . . . oh yes, 35mm FILM developed.

Accordingly, my thoughts while working on this study were confined to: "Lights here, darks there - how does it look when I squint my eye?". If I didn't like what I saw, I added dark here, or erased there. Exact shapes (or perfect ellipses on national insignia) were not sweated over for more than 10 seconds each.

I was mainly trying to 'capture' the main Corsair - the wingman was "blocked in" in about 2 or 3 minutes. As I said, I haven't even completed a final, refined, outline for both planes. THAT'S when I'll sweat perfect ellipses and exact shapes.

Not making excuses so much as explaining for those interested what's going on.

Oh, Ruy, you're exactly right - I let stark, cold, reality be my guide and jumping-off point, not my Lawgiver. Many forms of art - including films, etc., etc., would suffer greatly if the "purists" (God Bless 'Em, though - I count on them to write the expensive reference books I use!!) had the hammer on all decisions.

Wade