Berty
 

Here are two possible reference photos - please let me know what you think.

I have others, but I think these two are the best. The third photo is a closeup.

My view
 

Hi Julie,

I like the second photo very much. It's a wonderful pose and I think you have nice light. What a wonderful subject.

On the first one I feel like not enough of her face is exposed. And there is so much neck and chin, that might be too prominent in the painting. I just want to push that hat up a little to uncover more of her face!

One of these would be a head and shoulders and the other would be more of a 3/4 view. Is this something for your portfolio or are you restricted by size? Just wondering.

Hope this helps,

Joan

Chair
 

One more thought, if it were me I would lose the background and make that chair solid. With that dress all that pattern might make the portrait too busy, that is why I would try to simplify some of the other elements. I think that way there would be more focus on her face, but that's only how I personally like to see portraits.

Joan

No goal as of yet
 

Hi Joan,

Thanks for your comments. I agree about the busy pattern on the chair competing, and I definitely would not include it. I haven't made up my mind what to do yet - I've been itching to take photos of this lady, who I met through a church friend - so the immediate goal has been met, at least.

More Photos
 

What the heck - here's a few more.

One more
 

One with a brighter dress and background

Favorite
 

Julie,

I think the very last one, the close-up with the black hat, is my favorite. Her face has so much character. I like the shape of that hat better, it doesn't hide her face.

If it were my choice, I would either paint her in that striped chair (but without the stripes ;) , or I would paint a head and shoulders of her from the last photo. I think it depends on whether you want to do a 3/4 or a head and shoulders. I really like her expression on that last one though . . .

Joan

But the lip....
 

She has a lot of character, but just look at how crooked her lips are!

I'll probably take more photos. I need to learn a lot more about lighting anyway.

I really liked the first one best myself. I do see what you mean about the neck though. How do you solve the lighting of a person who is wearing a hat?

Nothing wrong with her lip
 

Julie,

There's nothing wrong with her lip. That's what her lip looks like. I think as portrait artists we have to seek out what is individual about each person, that's what makes everyone unique and beautiful. It looks like, from the other photos, that's what her lip looks like. (Oh, tongue twister.) If you change it, she won't look like herself.

I think you must have chosen this woman to paint because she is a beautiful unique individual, don't try to make her into some cookie-cutter model.

Just my opinion.

On the other hand, as far as the photo with what I think is too much focus on her neck, yes, that's her neck, but it isn't shown in the best light. So I wouldn't paint from that reference photo. I see these two points differently, can you see what I mean? The lip is unique feature, but the neck looks worse because of the light. I hope I'm explaining this satisfactorily.

Joan

Hi Julie,

I've come back to these photos many times now, and the first one has grabbed me and won't let go. There is such dignity in that face, and her neck doesn't bother me at all. I feel she's earned every wrinkle and is proud of it. There seems to be a lot of noise in the image (stray pixels of color), is the original better? I would paint from this, but would be very careful to keep the hat very soft and transparent so it doesn't take over. Also I would give a little more room around her head. A fascinating subject, I'd like to know her.

Jean