Pink scarf
 

I have put this portrait to one side for a couple of days before I finish/sign it. Therefore all comments are welcome.

I would especially like comments re: the scarf, and the background. Anything else is a bonus. ;)

I simplified the scarf so as not to detract from the portrait. Is this apparent? Personally I like the background but don't know if I should tone it down.

Many thanks in advance.

Kevin.

Detail 1

detail 2

Kevin,

The pink/purple in the background is my favourite colour.

Having said that, when I first looked at the portrait, I saw that first, then I looked at her face. This may mean that it is too saturated. It is a lovely portrait, the scarf works well.

Margaret,

I think you hit the nail on the head. Because it has been some time since I delved into the creative process, and my last pastel was just to see if I could still use them, this one has a little more thought behind it. I wanted a rich purple background, highlighted as shown in the painting, and couldn't see the wood for the trees. When I had a look at the painting this afternoon, after reading your comment, it seemed so obvious. Lesson 384 is; be more objective. ;) (Also, lesson 1, listen to my wife. She said it "cheapened" the portrait, which was the opposite of what I wanted to achieve. Now if she had said it was

Kevin,

Glad to help. You are braver than I; I still haven't had the courage to post. Have you done any portraits of your wife? I was very keen on pastels for years, but eventually gave them to my daughter because I wanted to force myself to paint in oils. I will be forever trying to master them.

Margaret,

Come on in, the water's fine! I can identify with your not posting. I have produced work in the past, and in hindsight, I haven't earned a living as an artist/illustrator because no one saw my work. I was/am a stereotypical artist. I was on the breadline waiting to be discovered - literally. I'm both older and wiser, or I

Kevin,

She looks a little more sombre, perhaps, but I think it has a more classic look to it.

Yes, I am a perfectionist and I like a challenge, which is why the choice of oils.

Many years ago, in Melbourne, I saw an exhibition of old masters from the Hermitage in Russia. The crowds around the portraits were so large that it was almost impossible to see them. When I did eventually get close up, I gazed in awe until forced to move on. My ambition as an artist is to wrest the viewer's attention from all other work on display and have them gaze at my work as I did all those years ago. The disadvantage of living in my part of the world is that I seem to be the only one working like this. I can get an excellent likeness, a beautiful tonal image and now, thanks to this site, I hopefully have access to the mentors I need for the future steps I need to take. I promise I'll post something soon.