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Portrait in Progress
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Message
Posted
I don’t normally post works in progress but I started this last night and now I’m starting a long run of shifts that will prevent me from doing anything for a week. I’m notorious for abandoning such works but I thought publishing a work that’s not even half finished may motivate me to finish it so I can display something better. Not overly happy with the eyes, transferring the expression from photo to portrait hasn’t worked but I’ve plenty of fiddle space yet. Not used this forum before for myself so I’m on virgin territory.
Posted
Looking good Jacqueline. I always think you have to be careful when using a photo as the only reference to a portrait as you can become a slave to the image and it can easily become flat and characterless. However, I do find a photo as well as a sitter a very good combo. Am sure the professionals would all say best not to use photos but it can definitely help when learning structure and shape. I often find turning a photo upside down helps as your eye sees things as they are not as how your head might tell you! That might also help you when painting this lady's eyes. However, I really like the texture and hat and this might also benefit from a little more shading to under the brim to avoid it looking like it is sitting on top of her head as opposed to her head sitting within the hat if that makes sense. Anyway, shall look forward to progress. PS. I'm only an amateur myself so perhaps wait for others who are much more experienced than me who can help.
Posted
Hi Jacqueline, Heather is right you have made a really good start. There are several benefits to using a photo for portraits: the model doesn’t move, the light doesn’t change and you have no excuse for inaccuracy. With portraiture accuracy is the most important. If the feAtures are not in the right proportions and right place, then it will not look like the subject. There are also disadvantages as Heather said. Without seeing the reference photo, we cannot comment on the likeness. It will be interesting to see you progress.
Posted
Always a plus if you can recognize who it's meant to be, and you've won that battle.
More tonal contrasts would have helped, though - the eyebrows are a bit wayward: one may be raised quizzically, but it does look a bit as though it's off for a drink with the brim of the hat. What it really suffers from is the fact that it's taken from a photograph: it's very hard to get the tones right, you can be badly misled by shapes too (although I don't think you have been) and if in doubt I would adjust the play of light to suit the picture, rather than try to represent the image in the photo faithfully: because it's bleached out the skin tones and flattened the natural elasticity of the flesh.
But all that's just practice - draw yourself; get a friend to pose - emphasizing that he/she might not recognize themselves, because that's a risk we all run with this, the most difficult of disciplines.
Posted
Always a plus if you can recognize who it's meant to be, and you've won that battle. More tonal contrasts would have helped, though - the eyebrows are a bit wayward: one may be raised quizzically, but it does look a bit as though it's off for a drink with the brim of the hat. What it really suffers from is the fact that it's taken from a photograph: it's very hard to get the tones right, you can be badly misled by shapes too (although I don't think you have been) and if in doubt I would adjust the play of light to suit the picture, rather than try to represent the image in the photo faithfully: because it's bleached out the skin tones and flattened the natural elasticity of the flesh. But all that's just practice - draw yourself; get a friend to pose - emphasizing that he/she might not recognize themselves, because that's a risk we all run with this, the most difficult of disciplines.
Edited
by Jacqueline Budd
Posted
Always a plus if you can recognize who it's meant to be, and you've won that battle. More tonal contrasts would have helped, though - the eyebrows are a bit wayward: one may be raised quizzically, but it does look a bit as though it's off for a drink with the brim of the hat. What it really suffers from is the fact that it's taken from a photograph: it's very hard to get the tones right, you can be badly misled by shapes too (although I don't think you have been) and if in doubt I would adjust the play of light to suit the picture, rather than try to represent the image in the photo faithfully: because it's bleached out the skin tones and flattened the natural elasticity of the flesh. But all that's just practice - draw yourself; get a friend to pose - emphasizing that he/she might not recognize themselves, because that's a risk we all run with this, the most difficult of disciplines.Thank you for the feedback. I’ve done a few portraits that both myself & the subject have been happy with but they have been of people I know. So, although I’ve worked from photos, I’ve used them primarily for shadow references & prompts, rather than slavishly copying. I’ll need to practise altering the light when working solely from photography As you suggest, it’s a skill I have yet to master. And yes, the eyebrow is supposed to be raised quizzically but hasn’t worked out. I’ve only done 2 portraits of women I’m completely happy with, I’m much better at doing men. Can’t think why.
Edited
by Jacqueline Budd