I'm tryin' again
 

Here's the pastel I've been working on for some time. I've been really stressing over it. I still have a lot to go, but the face is fairly close to done, I think. Gotta still work on the eyes and hair line, but I'm sure I'll add more along the way.

I started on her shirt which will be grayish-light blue. I don't have anything in that color range, so I experimented throwing some burnt orange first. Should that work, or was that completely stupid of me? The background and shirt will be similar colors, not positive on leaving the shirt with little detail kinda the way I do my drawings. I may also crop it more as I'm not definite on the shape or dimensions.

Any help will be appreciated, don't be worried about hurting my feelings. Thanks.

Hi Jimmie,

I knew that you could. :thumbsup:

Very solid drawing ( as usual) and beautiful skin colors.

Allan

No need to stress about this one Jimmy, Its coming out great! Your handing of the pastel is terrific.

Mary

Well Mr. Jimmie... I think you are just doing a smashing job. Your forms are so nicely done!

Hey Jimmie my friend, looks like you honestly have this well in hand. I'm sure you will feel successful with this piece. It's been my experience when you "need" to get it right for the sake of the fire inside you, it will happen. Keep bangin away and it's like the old saying, "necessity becomes the mother of invention."

I really like the skin tones on this one Jim.

~Gear

Jimmie,

I knew you'd be a natural. I think the flesh tones look pretty darn good. There are so many techniques and lord knows where I picked this up, but I find the judicious use of a paper towel (to this present state) to be very handy for varying edges, and creating the hair under the hair, if you know what I mean. And then those fresh, untouched strokes left for the top. It all depends on what kind of look you're after.

Jimmie I agree with Mike, your colors are so "fleshy". What is your palette and which kind of pastels. I think this is hard to achieve, I end up much more impressionistic with my pastel colors.

What are you whining about !!??!! This is terrific! You get a few of these under your belt and you'll be FLYING. As I've always said - (since I was six): "if you can render a convincing nose, you can render anything." And that is one delicious schnozzle (i.e., beak, honker, hooter, nozzle, snoot, snout....schnoz). Good Lord!

Jimmie this is terrific! You are really showing us how you can turn forms descriptively with color. Keep going!

Garth

Dang, you're going to get expensive.

This looks great!

Jimmie,

STOP It is complete. Fresh and beautiful.

I saw this and thought to myself, "D***, he's good!"

Stop stressing Jimmie, all your drawing is paying off in a big way. This looks like your style, it's fresh, sensual, and exciting!

Jean

Yeah, me too. Swore out loud when I opened this post up. Keep coming back to look some more.

Beautiful Jimmie!

Jimmie, Jimmie, Jimmie, if you only saw what mine look like when I am in a stress mode you'd wonder why you are stressing. If this is what you do when you are stressed I can't imagine what you will do when you feel like you have gotten the hang of it. I remember the first few times I used a pastel how awkward they felt to me, like I just didn't have much control (compared to drawing with a pencil). But once you get used to the way they feel in your hand, I bet you won't be so worried about what you are doing. You are definately a gifted man! :thumbsup:

Absolutely! (will work, that is - not the stupid part... :) ).

The whole piece seems to be a study in complimentary colors of blue & orange. The burnt orange in the shirt will add a lot of depth, especially if you scumble over it with different shades of blue.

In the smidgen of reference photo that we can see - you've got the exact opposite effect on the top of her hair - that beautiful blue refected light will perfectly mirror what you've got going on in her shirt.

This is a natural progression for your beautiful drawing style. :thumbsup:

I don't know a thing about Pastels. But I know a beautiful portrait when I see one. And my eyes are feasting on this one Jimmie. Please keep creating - your work is always uniquely yours and extremely beautiful.

I was stressed in my studio last night after working some sketches for my next piece, and to relax, I pulled out your demo on how to draw hair - just enjoyed looking at your work in developmental stages. You continue to inspire me!

This is wonderful, Jimmie. I keep coming back to look at the nose again. (What's the surface that you're using, or did I miss that in these posts?)

Thanks so much guys, I feel so much better. So much in fact, that I assumed you were all lying and put another 2 1/2 hours into the face and background last night. I'm just kidding, I felt you guys were being honest, but still put more work into it. I adjusted the eyes, the mouth needed to be slightly bigger, the nose was too small, and her left cheek was drawn incorrectly. I fixed them last night and feel better about it now. I still need to work on the eyes at a later time. What's screwing me up is the amount of mascara she's wearing. It completely hides that pretty pink rim on the lower eyelid. I'm considering faking it by practicing on a different piece of paper.

I have a few colors from different companies. I posted a pic of my set under here. In no way would I consider it a palette as I jump around from color to color cursing until something looks ok.

I start with the Polychromos, which are like the Nupastels. I like the Polychromos more, they are a little softer and they're supposed to last longer(lightfast). They work nicely for details later on also. I use Rembrandts early for blocking in shapes, I have a portrait and landscape set of them. I also have a small portrait set of Giraults. They're used the most because it's like holding a pencil, just wish I could afford the entire set. There's a small portrait set of Unison's that I use late in the painting. They have a real nice color, imo, for flesh highlights labled RE13. It's the lightest color in the face. Got some portrait Schminke's, but they're rarely used.

I'll post some updates and let you know what I've been doing. Thanks again everyone.

Thanks for the recent replies that must have been posted while I was typing.

Appreciate the info on the shirt Cindy!

Linda, the nose has been worked on. I like it more than before, hopefully everyone will agree. Added her nose stud also. The paper I'm working on is Wallis museum grade. I tried airbrushing some color before I started, but it has gotten lighter, something I did'nt expect but should have. I bought some of the Belgium Mist from Wallis, but it's professional grade only, it's not available in museum grade.

Thanks again.

WOW! I am so thrilled for you. This is incredible! You'd never know you stressed about this one. It has such a loose, fresh feel to it. So beautiful!

Amazing!

What a jump from your first effort. You really have a natural feel for pastel. One thing I love about pastel, is that it forces you to use a color you would have never thought of using, because your options are more limited.

Beautifully, freshly executed.

One teensy-tiny thing. I know her mascara is strong, but the inner tear duct is too harsh, soften it. Also When a models eyeliner is too dark I go a shade lighter in the pastel than what you think you need.

Watch out Jimmie, pastels can be more addicting than drugs! Ask Mary. You are always running out to buy the perfect color or two, and whammo, youv'e emptied your wallet!

So inspiring Jimmie to see you diving into different mediums. I think color is the ultimate challenge and you are off to a great start here. I'm anxious to see it once you declare it finished - also am anxious to see the level of your pastel work a year from now . If anything like your mastery of the pencil, they will be breathtaking, I'm sure of it.

I have never tried to paint, but I did do a series of about a dozen landscapes in pastel one semester in college and loved it (even though I was working with just a cheap, old, brittle box of pastels). Actually, a classmate offered to buy them all from me. I couldn't see selling "student work" and ended up throwing them all in the dumpster. Pretty dumb now looking back.

Thanks guys,

Oh my God, trust me, there was much stressing going on. Still is, but the comments made here have made it easier.

Thanks Sharon, your advice means a lot to me. I think I did better with the eyes. I lightened the mascara with dark gray and softened the duct. I also did minor changes to the nose, lips and shape of her left cheek. The closeup I'm including actually shows just how many layers were used until I came up with something I liked! I was nervous about loosing tooth.

I'm seriously considering changing the shirt neckline to show more upper chest, maybe a couple of inches. A Daniel Greene tape I have shows him using a razor to remove pigment. Has anyone tried this?

I hope I get to work consistantly without interuptions, life is funny that way. Thank you.

Jimmie -
What size is this? I'm concerned the nose stud (depending on the size of the portrait) may look like something else - like a mole maybe.

More beautiful. I agree with Mike, you're a natural. I'm impressed with how tight (descriptive) it is - and at the same time so loose and fresh. I'm jealous. My first attempt is getting overly tight and FAR from fresh. I'm so glad you're out there and posting!

David

I don't know anything about pastels but I sure can recognize talent. You are very special. Bravo!

This is so beautiful!!! I am so happy for you Jimmie! :sunnysmil

You are so naturally gifted with pastels!
 

Jimmie, when you ever organize your pastel and graphite portrait academy down the road (hopefully sometime soon), I will be among the first students to enroll! Seriously, I can see you giving a Forum demonstration down the line.

This portrait is so fresh, painterly, and yet so descriptive and polished. Bravo! I hope you undertake some more pastels portraits to share your growth with us.

Garth

Don't know how I missed this, but it's great to see that you got through this one with flying colors (pun sort of intended, if you like puns). Just wonderful!

I especially liked seeing how you took Sharon's advice and touched up the eye - it made quite a difference! This is a bit of Monday morning quarterbacking, but the next time you encounter a model with this kind of heavy makeup, get in close and photograph just for eye detail. And if you forget, put a stand-in under the same lighting. Sure, everyone's eye shape is different, but the overall construction is the same.

Like Marvin, I am barely familiar with pastels - but it is much akin to any opaque medium, I see. That in mind - how much further is it to a full color oil from here? :D

More thanks!

The total size is 13x28" and that closeup was about 2 1/2x5". I brightened the nose stud, so it looks more like a highlight off jewelry. Thanks for bringing it up.

That's part of my problem also. My brain wants to do tight, and my heart wants loose. The rest of my body wants sleep. Balancing all three is tough.

Thank you, but that would be WAAAY down the line. I might be able to do it with graphite, but I'll need a ton-o-practice myself before I can get comfortable with pastels. Daniel Greene's tapes are very informative, so is Anthony Ryder's book. Don't think I could do that. My pastel tapes would be over 17 hours. 3 hours of finished work, another 3 hours of me standing there wondering what to do, an hour waiting for the heat, and ten hours dedicated to blunders and bloopers.

I think I was in such a rush to take the pictures, that I forgot to ask her not to wear makeup. This was the first time in a very long time, that I went to the model's house to take pics. I had been taking them at the shop I work until my art was causing problems. Now that I've done it a couple of times, I should be more relaxed with my head straight. I'm also considering getting a monitor to work from so I'd be able to get closeups for detail. Best Buy is having a sale on LG monitors and they have a rebate on them. My brother gave my a gift certificate, so I need to see how much I can save.

Even longer than I thought. I would like to concentrate on the pastels for now, and given only a couple hours a day to work on them, it's just tough to do more than one thing at a time.

Thanks also to Marvin and Carolyn for the nice words.

About the painting, I'm now stuck on the shirt. I have only a few blues to work with and I can't find a nice mid-tone. I painted the entire shirt burnt orange first because the blue I was using was too intense. I was thinking of maybe a medium gray to go over it, then the lights? Or should I just go out and get a bunch of blues? Maybe me and my credit card can go to Brooklyn this Monday and get some Doaks.

I am going to ask Linda about moving this over to the WIP area as I still have several more hours to go.

Jimmie,

As you pointed out about the blue shirt was actually my second thought when looking right now.

Maybe you could make a warmer shadow in the deepest blue folds in the shadow side? That is an old trick, and why Umber means Shadow. Not in the shadows on the lit side since they are colored by reflection from the blue shirt itself, so they may be even more blue. ( Just like the folds in skin color are more intense in the light side of the face)
Allan

Ps. My first thought was, wow he is good!

Thanks Allen for the tips.

So, I broke down and spent the money on the Doaks. His range of blues are beautiful, just wish I could have gotten more.

Worked on the shirt for a couple hours, maybe longer, and worked on her hair. Even with the new colors, the shirt was a struggle, reworking multiple times. The hair was a bit of luck, once I found a good color, it went fairly painless.

My next panic attack will be the background. I'm going to make some color sketches because I would really like to add some kind of border in the orange family. Preferably simple and basic.

Thanks for looking.

WOW! Jimmie it looks fantastic. :thumbsup:

Geez! Jimmie you are fantastic! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Jimmie,
You are so AWESOME!!!! Viewing this piece this morning just gave me a shot of endorphins. What a great way to start my morning. I love this, Jimmie!!!!!!

Start Painting!!!!!
 

You need to buy yourself some oil paint and a canvas and get cracking! You have a gorgeous painterly style that is just screaming to be translated in a wet medium! ;) Very inspiring. Thank you!

Thanks very much guys.

Carol, I had been taking oil classes but it did'nt work out for a few reasons. Once things get better, I have intentions to start up again.

Thanks again.

Jimmie,

You have raised the bar for pastels. Thanks a LOT!!!

;)

Pastels
 

Personally I think (ahem) that pastels are underrated as a serious medium. They have a freshness, immediacy and sparkling color that oils sometimes cannot touch. In the 18th century pastellists were banned from showing their work at the French Salons' annual show because they outshone the oils. That helped speed their decline in popular usage. Most of us remember Degas from his beautiful ballet pastels, which he devoted himself to later in his career.

That said, I want to congratulate Jimmie for the beautiful piece, bringing pastel into the 21th century. It was not too long ago he was wallowing in his first effort trying to make sense of this particular medium. That usually happens in the first several attempts. That he was able to do this lovely piece on his second try is remarkable.

Beautiful blues Jimmie.

Secondly, I would not worry about getting closeups of eye details, there is usually distortion and the excess of detail can make our efforts look rather photographic and less painterly.