Photoshop
 

This was composed from three pictures in Photoshop. The color has been removed, which I think will help me with the tones in the underpainting. There is a little distortion in the drapery of the subject's left hand, but other than that, can anybody see anything else?

I would just like to get some feedback on the composition, etc.. I plan to do the portrait on linen, in oil, 24" x 36".

Thanks,

And now for the picture.

What a beautifully lit reference. I especially like the way her little fingers are delicatly holding her dress. By going back to your previous post that had pictures of this little girl I can see the coloring of the photo.

Wish it was mine! All of mine are usually outside. I will have to try one soon that is inside.

Very nice!

Rebecca

Thanks, Rebecca.

I must apologize for the poor quality of this file. It is a Photoshop file and I didn't know how to convert it to what this Forum can accept.

What are your opinions on leaving the drapery out of the portrait? It will be 24 x 36 and I am thinking of a dark blue/black backgound, keeping the lighting, of course, but leaving out the actual drapery. Any thoughts?

Alicia

Administrator's Note: Image has since been corrected since this post.

I think that I would leave them in. It looks as though she is looking through a window and I think that the drapery helps define that point.

Chocolate anyone?

Rebecca

I really like the idea of your drapery, but you have some major design problems with it as is, starting with the vertical dark negative space that it creates from top to bottom on the right hand side of the picture. You also have an uninteresting repetition of shapes caused by the drapery folds.

Since you're obviously adept with Photoshop, perhaps you could experiment with another "drape shape" in the background that would enhance this charming little figure to better advantage.

Thanks, Karin.

I'm not adept enough at Photoshop to create something that is not there. I think I'll make some sketches with, as you suggested, different shapes in the drapery. Maybe it could swoop back a bit. The black area to the right is there because I shifted the figure over. In the original photo the drapery goes to the edge.

Ahhh...I also find it easier to simply pick up a pencil rather than diddling around with the computer.

I suggest that you look at the drapery some of the Old Masters tossed into their backgrounds. It should give you lots of inspiration.

I enjoy a good puzzle. I'm certainly no master at this, but here is a thought. I also like the drape. I think what might help is a horizontal element. Something shadowed and obscure.

Administrator's Note: At the time of this post, the image was very dark and none of the horizontal elements on the left could be seen.

:) Thanks, Karin and Mike.

Backgrounds always drive me crazy. I'll sharpen the pencil and get out the drawing pad. I'll also hit the books for inspiration.

Thanks for taking a look.

Just lovely!

My comment is a wish for you to take care to avoid the "floating bow" syndrome by clearly stating some of the light down along the hair to connect the bow with the rest of the figure.

Loving the drapery as re-posted with horizontal element. Keeping the space between folds varied, dissipating light, and varying edge treatment will help composition also.

The main challenge I see with this strong side light is the difficulty one encounters in making the cheek turn back on the lit side-planes. (This is why I tend to move the light source forward of the figure a tad more and allow some color to return to the cheek.) Keeping it bright and making the turn may require temperature changes and some fancy brushwork in treating edges.

The subject is so charming, I hope you post the painting as it progresses.

Thanks, Jeanine, for the heads up about the floating bow syndrome and the light on the cheek. I have just started the underpainting and will post it when the underpainting is finished.

Maybe
 

I'd think about losing the dark column right of the drape - maybe just more drapes. But you could also just crop some of this dark (wall?) and a bit of the floor to keep your dimensions.

Tim,

The dark space to the right of the figure is just a blank space in Photoshop because I shifted the figure over. I have drawn in the frame of the french doors in that spot and varied the form of the drapes. Thanks for looking.

Here's a portrait by Joy Thomas with drapes playing a dominant role: http://www.portraitartist.com/thomas/ballerina.htm

Cynthia,

This is funny. I actually found this exact same portrait the other night and printed it out for inspiration.

Thanks for your interest.