Dirty hands
 

Ok, I'm on a hand search. I'll post close up of Nick's later. I had to bribe my husband to get this quick note on!

Jean

Close-up hands
 

Hi, Michele, By gradation of tone do you mean lightening on the right side of canvas with the lightest area starting at the figures? If so, then I understand. I believe this painting will end up a paradox, though. A very formal background and technique, with "relaxed" subjects!


Jean

Close-up of Nick's hands:

P.S. Nick's here for the weekend, so I'll play around with the real thing, too.

You'll need to be working from a photo of his hands as they would appear when in the shadow cast by the dog, not in full light as in this photo you just posted.

That's the problem when combining reference taken in different light and with different poses (ie boy photographed without dog there to cast a shadow on various parts of him, then painted with parts of the boy in imagined shadows from the dog.) It'll drive you crazy!

Crazy can be fun
 

In all the pictures I had taken before, there was not one good hand shot in shadow. So Nick and I had a "hand" session today. Same place, same light. I needed to see the difference between the bright light and shadowed light. I may give him a new set of hands. Maybe one of these times I'll do it right the first time.

As for going crazy, I see these problems as puzzles to be solved, not crazymaking situations. ;)

Jean

P.S. New hands below.

Where's his other hand? Or are you changing the hand pose to just this one hand?

This will be easier to paint from than working from photos of hands in light, but mixing and matching reference can be a killer.

Hi Michele
 

I took about 20 pictures of his hands to help me with the value changes between shadows in light and shadows in shadows. The one I posted was to show the dramatic difference between the lighted side of his face and the lighted portions of his hand in shadow. Guess this is what a value finder is used for. So I made one this afternoon, and now will actually use it.

I"m not going to change the hands, just the values. I may like to create problems for myself, but I'm not a masochist!

I was in too much of a hurry when I posted before. (Weekends and computers and husbands.)

Jean

Update
 

I've made many changes, hopefully fixed Nick's hands, made changes to his shirt, (lightened, subdued, and made it fit him better), and worked more on the background.

Somewhere along the line I lost some of Nick's resemblance so I'll be identifying that and fixing. There's still a problem with Chris's light eye, the pupil is slightly off (minor surgery).

I love the look of the venice turpentine but don't think I can stand the aroma, so will start looking for something like it with less toxic effects on the body. I try it again when the house can be opened up! I really love the look of the faces against the dark background. I've learned so much on this one. Thank you Michelle and Chris for your guidance, suggestions still welcomed!

Jean

Wow - love that dark background! I'd be really interested in seeing the painting with a lot more dark background on the right side and just a medium value to the right of the Dad's head.

Hi Michele!
 

Will do, glad you like it too.

Jean

Maybe like this?