Rebecca
 

I took Kim's suggestion and just did the face of the first photo in the resource photo section.

The odd thing, the mother says it looks just like her, but "I" don't feel like I got the likeness on this one. So who is right Mom (who is extremely blunt) or the painter? I don't know what it is, I can't put my finger on it.

Uh oh, you took MY advice?;)

Maybe this will help:

Mary,

I love these childrens pastels you do - I am wanting to try them again after watching these, I just hate to take the time to learn something all together new right now. Not to mention the investment! There is something about pastels though, that are just so...soft. Perfect for children.

To me, her eyes look too big perhaps, maybe there is a slant missing. The eyebrows also. The eyes come forward a bit too much- need to be pushed back? Her lips are more pronounced in the photo, I think. Perhaps darken the cheek shadow (on our left).

Of course as I write this the photo isn't in front of me anymore.

Well, I'm with the mother. I think you got the likeness. But, did you get the gesture and expression of the photo you took? I'm not sure... They're quite different.

I wasn't sure about these resourse photos you took, because they're out of context - the dancer out of the studio or stage. So, to me, they seemed a little out of place. But the girl is so lovely, and has such bearing.

Maybe you might want to give this pose another shot, even on the porch, because her demeanor is so striking.

Lisa

Lisa, Maybe you hit the nail on the head. When I printed out this photo, my printer decided that would be a good time to run out of ink..so the source was AWFUL, but I felt I knew this child well enough, and had several other snapshots just from her being around that I could pull from those if necessary. So, I didn't really go completely by that actual photo. Rebecca came over, and standing next to it, she looks like it, when it is next to the resource photo as Kim has done, it doesn't look like the photo. Maybe this is one of those instances when the photo told one story and my brain painted what it knew?

Anyway, my main purpose on this one was to practice, I tried out the Wallis paper and learned to NOT blend so much with my pinkie, I LITERALLY rubbed the skin off my finger, feels like tiny bit of glass are in it.;C

Usually likeness is not my problem, but the technical things, this one threw me for somereason and it is driving me nuts!

Hey Mary,

It looks like you have straightened her features veritically. I find that the urge to straighten is strongest when the angles are slight.

Your work taken independently of the photo still works pretty well. But those angles are something to watch out for.

Good Rebecca, Bad Rebecca!
 

Mary,

I think Mike's illustration was right on in terms of drawing. Doing a head with this kind of subtlety is very difficult and what you have acheived so far is commendable.

The problem I have is with the color, it is the same problem many of us face when we work from photos. It is the lack of variety in the skin tones. Skin is so various that a camera misses so much of it.

What to do when we are faced with a wiggly child or a fidgety adult for that matter?

I always take the photo reference in the same light I will paint the picture in. I set up a large blowup of the photo next to the child. I use the photo to keep my drawing on track, and use the subject for color. It is kind of a little game, I refer to the child as "bad Rebecca" and the photo as "good Rebecca". The kids get a real kick out of it if you do it with a sense of humour. Then you don't have the frustration of always returning the child to the exact pose.

Try it with a head or two, you will see the results.

Sincerely,

Thoughts on Rebecca's Portrait
 

Hi,

I think this is a lovely portrait. Posting your your source photograph makes it easier to pick on the likeness and mistakes rather than looking at the work of art for what it is. Without the source photo I might not make the same observations.

But since you have, I will chime in on the likeness. On first glance three major areas hit me:

1) The shadow on the left side of the lip could be emphasized and warmed up a bit more to add dimension.

2) The shadow on the left side of the face (cheek) could be warmed up a bit too, this would add contrast between your warm and cools, and once again add dimension.

3) The shadow on the left of her nose, is trickier, this is always a hard shadow for me to get just right. I might suggest adding a little warmth there too. Of course, if you go too far it might mess up a lovely portrait.

Anyway, those are my immediate thoughts. I am sure they will be very pleased with it, just as it is.

Lara