Dear Barbara,

As you consider your next portrait, I wanted to suggest thinking through the center of interest in your painting before you begin. As I look at the your progress in this thread, there are a couple of things that come to mind.

First, the way you employ edges is very critical to supporting the center of interest, which I'm sure is meant to be the face. However, the sharpest edge, combined with the greatest contrast, and placed against the strongest color, is the hat band, followed by the medals. As a result, the eye is pulled away from the face.

The same thing applies to the strong general color of the uniform, which overpowers the more tentative colors used in the skin tones. I find it helpful to keep the center of interest in the "conscious" front of my mind when I paint from photos, since they are misleading in regard to edges, color and values. When I paint from life, I can let the thoughts move more into the "subconscious" zone, since all the information I will need is in front of me as I paint.

Thank you, Cynthia and Chris, for taking the time to guide and advise me. I am indeed very impressed by the professionalism of the people in this Forum. To me personally, it means more than you could know, as I am quite isolated where I live, and, in addition to that, I am also a foreigner to Belgium (where I live).

Before I start the next portrait I will have to educate myself a little more in regards to photographing the subject. I have already made plans to buy a spotlight.

I have a Sony Cybershot camera, which takes excellent shots; however I think that a tripod will also be necessary for the future. In the meantime I have been told that a bean bag will do the trick! Is this true?

Another small query if I may. My photo editing software is Photoshop and it has the facility in the 'filters' to change the lighting in a shot. If you have the perfect shot but the lighting needs a small adjustment, how successful is this? I have a strong feeling that you are going to say, "No can do", either a perfect shot or shoot again. Right?

I see exactly what you mean, Chris, about his face being overpowered by the medals and band. I don't think that it helped me when I agreed to 'play down' his wrinkles and use the more washed out photograph that was taken with flash. I will definitely be more honest and less 'tentative' with the skin tones next time.

My thanks to all once again.

Barbara :)

Barbara,

I would like to comment on a couple of the items you brought up. About the tripod, as far as photographic equipment goes this is not a big ticket item. I find them to be a big help when I shoot indoors in natural light. I don't think the bean bag would give you much flexibility. The height of your camera should not be determined by what you place your bean bag on. I would also suggest a cable shutter release. Another inexpensive item.

As far as adjusting the lighting of a photo in Photoshop. Why would you not? If all else is what you want, and you can bring it up to speed, I say do it. Also, some scanners will create darker lighting than the reality of the photo. I know mine does. A quick adjustment in Photoshop brings it back. It's just a small part of the creative process that you control.

Thanks for the advice, Mike.

It was all good news from you. No need for my husband to buy a tripod for me, he's now your No. 1 fan! As for the shutter release, he will not notice that one.

It opens up a lot of possibilities for me now that I can play about with photographs in Photoshop. I did some experimenting after I read your comments, and some of the effects I can obtain are amazing. I just wish I had known about the lighting filter long ago. Never mind, better late than never.

I am attaching the final picture of my painting. (Unless anybody can suggest any more improvements - other than re-painting it!)

I am now making plans for my next one with a lot more confidence.

He has agreed to pose for more photographs, but unfortunately, he does not approve of my sending photographs of him over the web as Cynthia suggested.

Barbara

Nice Job!
 

Barbara,

This looks fantastic! I am sure he will be pleased with this. Thanks for sharing your process on this board - it helps everyone learn new things, I think!

Warm regards,
Willow

Hello to all,

Just to let you all know that I have landed the military portrait commission! I am going to take the photographs next week.

I am very nervous about it, and I have been educating myself in your portrait photography forum which helped me a lot.

I have also printed out a selection of military portraits for him to select a pose that appeals to him.

To ensure that I would be offered the commission I told him that the usual non-refundable deposit would be waived in his case. In short, if he wasn't satisfied with the portrait, I would keep it. He seemed very happy with this.

I did not tell him that I had only been painting for three years and only painting portraits for six months. Was that naughty? Truth is, I really wanted this and I intend to use all that I've learned on the 'practice run' to produce a portrait that he will be proud of showing (fingers crossed).

I will be unable to send a photograph of him in his uniform which is unfortunately a drawback for me. However, I will keep you fully posted with progress shots of the painting when started.

Thank you all for helping me land this commission.

Barbara :)

I would hazard to guess that anyone who has had the guts to succeed did at some point place themselves out on a limb. Forget about what you think you don't know. Do the best you can and when you present the final product, do so with all the confidence of a Michelangelo. Even if you throw up afterward.