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Portrait commission...advice needed for hair please!

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Heidi Clawson

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Hello! This is a current commission from an old photograph of the customer's Mother-in-law. Quite pleased with this so far but I could really do with some advice to make the hair look better! It had a soft perm in the photo with lots of light and shade but I'm struggling with it!! Any help would be greatly appreciated : ) Thank you!

Anthony Knight

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If you could feather the hard edge to the fringe I think that would help pull things together. It’s very abrupt at the moment. Really nice other than that!

Alan Bickley

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Well yes that’s good advice! I would go a stage further and soften all the edges of this portrait. They all seem a bit hard and precise, clothes included.  It‘s difficult to copy from any photograph, you need to use it as a reference and add some of your own style. That’s how I would proceed, but my style of painting may be totally different to yours.
DSCF4152

Anonymous User

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I don't know if you have already done this, but have a search for Ben Lustenhouwer - Portrait Painting How to make transitions and soft edges, also Portrait painting, hard and soft edges, Tutorial Sessions Collage Course. Of course there are many more that could suit your need. Its looking good, all the best.

Heidi Clawson

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If you could feather the hard edge to the fringe I think that would help pull things together. It’s very abrupt at the moment. Really nice other than that!
Anthony Knight on 27/07/2020 21:50:13
Hi Anthony! Thanks for this - I got so far with the hair then I was a bit stumped about what to do next so feathering the edges would be a good start I think! There's a strong light on the photo (I guess taken with a flash many years ago) so there are lots of really dark areas on the hair...it just needs some life to to it! This is the photo I'm working from...

Edited
by Heidi Clawson

Anthony Knight

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I’ve only painted hair a couple of times Heidi, and it’s great fun? Especially when you’re working from reference that isn’t the best. I’m sure you’ll get it 😊