I found Connie Hayes' website. She uses color in shapes in quickly and precisely. The subjects she chooses could be done in way that make them uninteresting and lifeless, but the color she uses along with her quick brushstrokes make these canvases exhilarating. I think that from studying her work I can learn good use of interpreted color. As well learning to use color shapes and brush strokes to create an effective and interesting picture.

Another artist that I find interesting and helpful is Erin Cone. Cone concentrates on fabric and the human figure. I love her simple photographic portraits especially in her painting Keepsake. I strive to create images as clear cut as Cone does. The use of subtle colors and shapes makes for a powerful picture. The figures demand that you pay attention to their glowing forms. I think that from Erin Cone's work I can learn how to create a more accurate figure and be able to master skin.

The last artist that I really felt a connection with is Peggi Kroll. She has tones of figures and more often than not they are just a handful of shapes. It is wonderfully surprising. Some artist take the time make the figure a complex assimilation of jigsaw-like pieces. Kroll on the other hand seems to try to do the figure in as few shapes as possible. As a result her figures are just as powerful as anyone who used small detailed shapes. From Kroll I can learn the simplicity of the human figure.

All of these artists give extremely good examples to learn from. Although practice is important, so is studying those who have mastered what you would like to accomplish.