Please critique portrait of child
 

Please take a look. I must deliver in a few days. Any comments or suggestions will be appreciated. Portrait is 24 x 30 oil on linen.

Thanks.

photo reference. First scan of portrait is much too dark. I will try to lighten it. Those flowers are not that Blue!

Hope this scan is a little better. Need to get out the book I ordered on Adobe Photoshop and read it!

Hi, Alicia!

There is something about the face that has an angry look about it. I think maybe it has something to do with the roundness of the face. I could not see the close up on the computer to tell what it is exactly. It needs more of an overall softness.

By the way I am in Tickfaw, Louisiana. Born and raised in Pumpkin Center. My email address is [email protected]. We should get together!

Beautiful painting!
Rebecca

Rebecca,

There's a whole history on this Forum behind the resource material for this portrait. Take a look at http://forum.portraitartist.com/show...=&threadid=873.

AHHH! I see now. Thanks, Cynthia!

Alicia,

My 2 year old has two poses for pictures. The first is the "Don't aim that thing at me again!" The other is a huge big tooth smile! Neither is appropriate for our chosen sport! The painting is really beautiful, but I still miss a little of the roundness of this face. It could just be a distortion of the computer monitor though. I always run a piece of inkjet transparency through my printer with a print out of the reference photo at the same size as the face on the canvas and lay it over my completely dry painting (messed up a pretty good painting by not waiting long enough once). You can see right through and correct slight differences that you ordinarily would not notice! They sell it at Office Max in Hammond.

Happy Painting!
Rebecca

Thanks Rebecca,

I see you read all about it. The mother insisted on this particular photo. I like the painting and she does have a pensive look on her face. I know the scan is somewhat distorted especially in the close up and the colors on the larger photo don't ring true on the monitor. I'll try your suggestion and see if that helps.

Yes, we will have to get together. Are you hiding back in the woods somewhere? I am sure we have a lot to talk about. I look forward to meeting you. Do you know Linda Vise? She lives in Loranger and is a wonderful portrait artist. She is also a friend. Thanks again.

And, Linda is also on SOG: http://www.portraitartist.com/vise/vise.htm

Alicia,

I would soften the eyebrows and eliminate the shadow above the brow on our right. This should reduce the worried look.

The blue flower furthest to our right looks as though it rests on her neck and the leaves/mulch on the right looks like a brown spot of some sort. I don't think you need it.

All in all, a good painting.

After reading Jim's post, I went into Photoshop and did a little redo in that area, and I think he is right about the eyebrow. It made a lot of difference! It amazes me the difference a little thing like that could make.

I have visited Ms. Linda before my husband fell off a building, and broke both arms and a leg. I have wanted to go back but have not had time yet. She gave me great advice!

I would love to take classes with her. My five year-old starts kindergarten this year so I will have more time!

I'll have to treat you to lunch one day. It will be fun to talk to someone who shares the interest in portraiture.

Thanks again, Cynthia, for providing ALL of this for us. I'm not sure you will ever know how much we all appreciate you!

Rebecca