Muriel Christensen, Portrait of Woman with Braid I was really impressed with the colors and expression Muriel captured from life at the Palette and Chisel Club under north light. Her drawing is quite good! But I noticed that in the photo of the model, the farther eye is slightly lower than the closer eye—but in her painting, the eyes are exactly level. We talked about how models can gradually settle into the pose over time and slightly tilt their head, but because Muriel was

By Nancy Rowe I’ve heard people call it the artist’s curse. That is, wondering if what you’re painting or the songs you’re playing or the prose you’re writing are any good. It appears impossible to measure your own artistic merit, to see your work with objective eyes. And while you may be lucky enough to have an honest teacher or someone who will provide constructive criticism, there is still that nagging feeling that maybe you’re fooling yourself. In the process of painting