Homage to Toulouse Lautrec

You shouldn't beat yourself up so much Lew. There's lots of good elements in this.

How can you not be happy with this, Lewis? It’s super. Spot on. Love it.

What’s not to be happy about, Lewis, I think you have done Toulouse Lautrec justice. Wonderful detail.

Thanks David, Seth and Ellen for your positive feedback. I always have the most doubts about pictures assembled from several sources...you can do preparatory work, layout sketches etc, but until you've finished it you can't be sure. Those of you who've done this will know what I mean...I know David has. This is OK, or I wouldn't have posted it. Maybe the idea in my head was too elusive...when that's forgotten, I'll maybe be happier with it.

I quite often go off my own works Lew...then re-assess it later and find positives. This is splendid work and fully epitomises the man and the era. Superb way of presenting a great picture.

It's a fine drawing for sure Lew, competent and positive. I recognise all the characters, having drawn them myself at some time, but not as well. There is an awful lot going on in this piece so lots to look at, but I'm not sure about the mix of 'real' characters and his poster art. (if that makes sense!). Damn good stuff anyway...

Beautifully done Lewis, super. Stop doubting yourself.

Thanks Jim and Alan. Alan, your comment about the mix of 'real and poster' characters was one of my doubts...arguably, Lautrec is best known for his groundbreaking posters...so I felt I had to include some. Maybe it would have been better to do all 'poster characters' or all 'real' characters (I have 20/20 hindsight). In fact, a better homage might have been a picture set in the MOULIN ROUGE showing Lautrec and its famous denizens, but painted in my own style. Who knows? No big deal, I'm just experiencing my usual 'ifs and maybes'.

I would be over the moon had I accomplished anything so grand. Watercolour gives the painting a freshness and I think it's brilliant. I find watercolour very difficult and I'm trying hard to achieve a decent painting in this medium. For this reason I admire competent water colour artists greatly.

I think it's fantastic Lewis, one of your best to date if that's possible, I love the lady in the black hat, absolutely spot on 😀

We're all looking at this in different ways, through different eyes. When it's your own work any doubts that are there are magnified, that's all you concentrate on. No one else knows this however ( unless you blurt it out, which you have and which I also do - regularly! ). What I see is a great composition, as usual, and the beautiful vibrant colours which sum up Lautrec. The man in the red scarf I had in my flat, centuries ago, when I was a student.

This is great work Lewis. I remember seeing an exhibition of his work at the Tate Gallery in 1959 and was overwhelmed by his skill.

Some familiar faces in your montage here Lewis, lovely interesting work - I like a painting that keeps my attention.

Be happy Lewis, this is great!

This is brilliant! Give yourself some encouragement....

Excellent painting Lewis _it really works well.

Self criticism is usually the harshest found , I would be pleased to have produced this painting and class it a keeper ! I like the colour flow that keeps you in the picture surface

Superb. What's to add!

You set a very high standard for yourself. That is very commendable but don't be too hard on yourself as this is very good.

Goodness me Lewis this is stunningly good...what are you beating yourself up about...it's fantastic in every sense of the word. A true homage to a great artist!

It's brilliant Lewis and would make a fantastic poster, I'm sure Monsieur Lautrec would agree

I think this is great, love your rendition of Van Gogh!