Renaissance Portrait
 

Hello everybody.

This painting is not complete.

I have had real problems with the blouse that she is wearing. I cannot seem to make the creases in the fabric very believable and I am getting very frustrated by it. Is there any secret or rule that you should follow to achieve believable folds?

Also the blouse has patterns on it but I am undecided as to whether or not to include patterns.

Thank you for looking.

Barbara

The picture
 

So sorry. Here is the picture.

Barbara,

Nice painting!

Whether you add the design to the fabric is your decision, but I would make it very sketchy and impressionistic if I included it.

As to the folds, I think they would look more convincing if they were a bit darker and more along the shades of the background or her hair in terms of color. As it is they don't seem to exist in the real world; the bright blue is so vivid and the shadows are even brighter so they don't read as folds. I would also tone down that blue overall because otherwise it's a real scene-stealer and very much draws the eye away from the rest of the painting.

Her face is beautifully done with lovely tones and shading (although the cheek is a bit too orange on my monitor). And I also like the way you've reflected the blue on the underside of her chin and on her hands. Again, nice job!

Hello, Leslie, and thank you for your valued advice and comments.

After considering your advice, I will be strengthening the darker values in the blouse and I will also probably change the colour completely. I agree that the blue is overpowering and is dominating the painting.

I chose the ultramarine blue because I wanted the painting to match the curtains in a bedroom! Big mistake!

She will have to hang in another room.

I will also tone down her cheek a little.

Thank you again for your comments.

Barbara

New improved portrait, thank you
 

Hello again.

I have taken Leslie's advice and made a few changes to the portrait.

I have attached it and I believe that there is a definite improvement now and I am becoming more happy with it.

Having said that, I am always hungry for ways to improve my work, so please feel free to comment on anything else that you may feel is not working.

Thank you again.

Barbara

Barbara,

Wow! You have been busy! I think you could have accomplished almost the same effect with the ultramarine if you had toned it down more but I love the results of your new efforts. I'm sure you're as satisfied with those folds as I would be; they really read like wrinkles in the cloth, now, and the whole painting is much more of a cohesive work because the tones all fit together so well.

You've also darkened the fingertips of her right hand more, but I think I'd darken them even more so that the value and coloration were similar to that of the back of her neck and jawline.

Really nice work! Is this a commission or a painting for your own collection?

Thank you, Leslie.

I was so pleased with this morning's work that I couldn't wait to post it, hoping that you might see the fruits of my labour.

I doubt that I would have thought of changing the colour of the blouse altogether, but yes, didn't it work ever so well? I love the way the ultramarine is still showing through the burnt umber. I have you to thank for it.

Yes, I will darken the shadows on her hand more. And I may tone down her 'orange' cheeks a little more, as the paint was still too sticky to work with this morning.

This is for my portfolio. I am a little tired of painting self portraits and my family and I'm not yet experienced enough to keep the commissions coming in. Maybe one day. :D

Thank you again, Leslie.

Barbara