Ted
 

I guess a number of us are finding our way over from another forum online. I hope this will be a good place to get new input.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/i...2002/sgted.JPG

This is my last studio portrait. I am embarking on a serious career in Portraiture so I very much appreciate the input of the pros. He is 18x20, oil.

Thanks for your opinions and encouragment...ok, I will even appreciate scathing reviews!

Wow, very nice dramatic portrait! The only thing I would suggest is to bring out his face more with stronger, meatier color, perhaps using a wider brush. You have that wonderful loose stroke that can be quite effective here. Also, dab a tiny, brighter highlight in the glint of his eye nearest the light source. (Don't make the highlights the same in both eyes.) Right now, my eye goes to his shirt, and I would prefer that to be the second reading. :sunnysmil

Here is a detail. Your site seems to load much darker than I am used to. Because the light source is low, I did make the eye in the light brighter and a bit smaller and central.
The skin tones are full of colors but I agree, not very colorful. Points well taken.
Thank you for your comment!

A wonderfully interesting character, painted masterfully with an equally wonderful moodiness and mystery about him, owing to the unusual lighting source (both direction and intensity). In somewhat paradoxical contrast, the shadow areas in the shirt fabric are beautifully luminous.

The one thing I'd mention just in passing, most notable after you posted the close-up, is the quite substantial difference in relative size of the ears. Maybe there's an explanation for that, but you might want to have a second look at it.

Very accomplished.

Steven

Thank you Stephen!
 

It has been in the back of my mind all along. I have had other critiques and they seem irritated by the ear in the light being do sharp. The dark ear is an oversight. I was seriously thinking of contrasting a golden earring coming from the shadow and did not finish the lobe! I noticed it once and see it at very inopportune times.

This is a model from an open studio I attend regularly. He is a notorious fidgeter but having the luck of his eyes focused on my easel, as he sank and straightened, my only adjustment was the slight perspective shifts as he tilted up and down.

This was from a 3 hour sitting alla prima and, although I snapped a ditital of him at the end of the pose, I feel almost jinxed if I do much alteration without the model.

When I get braver, I will post a few of my small (because I have not gotten any large) commissions. Thanks for all your input.

sorry, STEVEN..
 

as you see I am not good at the details.

Ted? Somehow the name of the painting doesn't seem to fit in with the picture! Methinks the ear got cut off in a bit of swordplay, mateys! Maybe bluebeard or something!

This painting is fabulous! My kind of eccentric clothing (see clothing subject in the cafe)! You are very talented to do this from a live model in such a short time. Even in Helen Van Wyk's video's her portrait "sketches" were not so cleverly detailed!

Don't be afraid of a photograph to adjust the painting if that's what you want. Some of us paint mostly from photos, and less from life by choice. Actually, in your case, you paint from life so well, the photos can be used just as a tool for doing some finishing work. Used in conjuction, painting from life and using photos, can be a winning combination. I think there was a recent article in Artist's Magazine about this subject by Scott Burdick.

Anyway, I'd just like to say...Well Done!!

Dear Debra,

When I saw your lovely work I was absolutely delighted. I have painted Ted many, many times, (always in the red head scarf!) and never in a more interesting, or a more flattering light (literally and figuratively). I know that I have several portraits of him somewhere and if I can dig them out I will post them for fun.

I think you have done a wonderful job with the painterly aspects of this piece as well as with the color temperature balance. It was a pleasure to see this painting.

As we must be neighbors, I will send you a separate email, perhaps we can get together for coffee.

Kindest regards, Chris

LOL Chris!
 

Chris, I am laughing, because if you know Ted, YOU KNOW TED!

I go to the open studio at the Scottsdale Artist's School Monday night, portrait and Wednesday night short figure, as well as a second portrait starting at 4 Saturday and a long figure post at 9. Practice makes... well it makes me tired, that is for sure. Since you are a big timer, have I missed your seminars there?
Thanks for noticing. It is a REAL complement having the model recognized!

Marta, what wonderful words!!
It is a wonderful opportunity to work from life. I must say I am spoiled and find I feel more confident from life, even though working from photos is well, less work. I sort of feel like all the questions are answered for me, if you know what I mean. If I seriously intend to do this as a career, I will definitely get over this idea that easy is BAD!

I have a couple of commissions coming in this week and I would very much appreciate all of this wonderful input as I progress.

Now I have to go explore more of the site.
Thanks again!

We had our "Ted" in Minneapolis (though he was/is "Richard"), whom countless students in several art schools and ateliers had drawn or painted in nude life sessions. He'd show up on the walls at exhibitions and open houses all over, surprising to see and vaguely disturbing, because I guess we came to feel a bit proprietary about "our" model. However, the serendipity of similar experience rarely led to invitations to meet over coffee, perhaps because our common bond was, after all, that we'd all spent many dozens of hours with the same naked man. Even my wife recognized him -- presumably from my sketches and paintings!

Steven, you are invited!
 

Chris and I both welcome you to the neighborhood Starbucks for our next confab! When will you be in Scottsdale next?

Your new friend,

Debra,

I recognized Ted too as I have painted him a couple of times at SAS! I definitely like your version better than mine! You did a wonderful job on his portrait. I like your loose brushwork and am trying to loosen mine up a bit.

I also wanted to mention that I saw your pastel at the Best and the Brightess! Congrats on that accomplishment. Have you sold it yet?

I read how much you are painting at the open studio and I am impressed. I have never been but having read how you go religiously, I am thinking about fitting it into my schedule when it allows. So see, your posts are inspiring some of us readers here in the Valley.

We need a chapter
 

We need some sort of Portrait Society out here in the Valley! This is getting exciting. Tonight at the school we will have Paul, the model coordinator. Too hunky for words, I have never gotten a good oil of him. Wednesday evening is Tiffany, the waiflike former model-icon of the school.

I would love to have a forum where a lot of us could co-post the same evening of paintings from the studio. A buffet of talent! Hope you come. If you never met him, here is Paul:

Footnote
 

I have not been in the Forum for a while but wanted to tell you all that this picture of Ted was a finalist in the Artist's Magazine 2002 competition, portrait.

No picture, just the 10 letters in the December Publication - but next year!

Many congratulations!

Congratulations Debra! I greatly admire your work.

Congratulations!
 

Debra,

Congratulations! What a treat to be a finalist in the Artist Magazine Portrait competition -- probably a dream for me!

Before I read anyone's post I was taken by this portrait. The harmony you have created with color (value!!!), brushstroke (appears effortless), and emotion as well as texture is awesome.

Thank you for sharing this with all of us.

Sincerely,
Denise

Hello Debra,

I like the portrait of Ted. The detail of the portrait shows a wonderful handling of the paint. If possible, I would like to see an even more close-up look of certain details of the head. I would like to see the purple and blue accents you placed in there (I think).

Greetings,
Peter

Even bigger footnote
 

I got an award for him in the St. Louis Artist's guild show. Cash is not much, but recognition is invaluable.

I am feeling pretty good about the old coot, and needed a place to crow.

Congratulations. Very well-earned.

dj*, I'll repeat my congratulations publicly. Some day I'll be able to say I "knew" you when!
Leslie