Thank you for your report!
We have received your report and it is currently under investigation by a forum moderator.
i need help a bit
Welcome to the forum.
Here you can discuss all things art with like-minded artists, join regular painting challenges, ask questions, buy and sell art materials and much more.
Make sure you sign in or register to join the discussions.
Hang on Studio Wall
This is a Studio member-only feature!
Join our Studio membership and save your favourite Painters Online content, from gallery artwork to step-by-step guides, to your own online mood boards. Create your go-to place for inspiration and learning. Plus, members can also enjoy a range of exciting features including monthly art videos and a digital magazine library.
If you are already a Studio member, simply login to your account.
Not a Studio member? Why not try our free 30-day trial - no commitment, no credit card required
Message
Posted
my really first portrait picture....I feel like I'm in kindergarten :) what should I do? I'm afraid that every blob too much will "disfigure" the whole face...but I would like to paint much more strongly, not so blandly...should I use fineliner behind it? or just blob it over? I'm standing on the mountain, I don't like it (yet), but I don't want to mess it up either...How would you proceed here? I ordered the illustrated book version of Lord of the Rings online, with 50 illustrations by Alan Lee; I'm really looking forward to it and now I'm really infected by the topic again :)
By the way, I don't have a book about portrait painting, but I try to get by completely self-sufficiently without any help books...
I would be very happy about your valuable input and would be very grateful. lg Tanja
I will remove the photo if it violates copyright, even though it can be seen on a thousand websites, on covers, film clips, but I will remove it if desired.
I would be very happy about your valuable input and would be very grateful. lg Tanja
I will remove the photo if it violates copyright, even though it can be seen on a thousand websites, on covers, film clips, but I will remove it if desired.
Posted
Tanja, please, do not put a fine liner anywhere near it. You have your own unique way of painting. This is a lovely delicate painting.
If I were to darken any areas I would study the shaded areas of the photo. Beneath the wizards hat and the area across his eyes, and his staff, to bring out the twists, but not too dark. The shadow within the boys hair would be another area and also the shoulder, bottom left. Its good you have a monochromatic picture, marvelous to show up the contrasts needed for a balanced piece of work.
Will look forward to seeing what you do. And reading other comments.
Edited
by Carol Jones
Posted
No fineliners! That's OK if that's how you started, but introducing one now would look too much like trying a rescue job: and they don't work too well on top of watercolour anyway. To strengthen lines - jaw, fingers, tops of eyes, ears - a mix of Ultramarine and Burnt Sienna, to make a soft dark, applied with a fine brush, will be much better than going in with a black fineliner. The tones in flesh can of course be made stronger by just using strong mixes of those colours you've already used.
Posted
oh, thank you very much for the valuable advice from you @Carol and Robert - thank you very much! I take this to heart: no fineliner! (although I really love pen&wash, but it really wouldn't fit here, it would be like an elephant standing on a porcelain cup..) I try to strengthen the shadows again and put my fears aside....Ultramarine & burnt sienna, thanks for that too this tip:) What can you do about the fear? This question is terrible, yes I know... sometimes I can just tear up a picture and make a new one, and sometimes I don't want to think about it...
Posted
Tanja the fear is something we all have from time to time and is a part of out creativity it’s partly responsible for driving us to achieve better results. Nothing can be done about it but to accept it as a part of your creativity and recognise it for what it is don’t try to suppress or spend time fighting it , you will waste good painting time .
Posted
Tanja, don't be so hard on yourself. Portraits take practice and you have made a start. I couldn't do portraits but that never stopped me continuing to practice in all mediums. Eventually, with practice, you will begin to see an improvement. Constant looking and assessing and re-evaluating your work to see how the likeness is coming along. Portraits in watercolour are very difficult. Charcoal is very good for portraits when you are trying to figure them out when you are not that familiar with doing them. The photo you show, would be perfect for a charcoal sketch. Mine are not perfect but after three years of steady progress, I can say, I achieve a good likeness and I'm fairly comfortable doing a portrait now. Keep at it. The portrait you have done, you would have learned a lot from it already. So see it, as a useful exercise.
Posted
@Denise: yes, you're right, it's my very first portrait...an attempt. And orcs are nice too...sometimes... @Skylar: that's a good tip! thank U! @Carol: No I do not want that. thanks for respecting.
@Paul: Thank you for your very good input regarding fear :)
@Sylvia: I think about it often, hehe :)
Edited
by Tanja G.