Female figure WIP
 

Hello All, :)
This is my attempt in underpainting + glazing/scumbling. I am still working on it. Any comments, suggestions are very much appreciated. Perhaps it needs correcting values, color temperature, etc :?
Cheers,
Iakov
16*20''

Iakov, The model and the pose are quite interesting and I am sure many would say that you can stop here and not to touch a thing. I guess it all comes down to what it is you want out of this painting. If it is that you wish a honest critique than I will honestly try and suggest a few things. First, I personally like the value key but what ever key one works there is that balance of shadow and light. You have managed to control this transition between light and shadow and it works well but I think this painting needs more attention. I suggest for you to manage the lost and found edges the hard and soft edges. When you have the edges established correctly, for now the edges in many places have that cut out feeling, I believe then you will be able to see the form better.

Another, try to create the small forms like a sculptor would and when you have that then a flick of the brush here and there looks ok. When one places brush marks or glazez just because one sees them there then that is evident and does not make for a good painting.

I hope I was able to help

Hi Lakov,

it is hard to judge, as you are obviously not yet finished with this.

it looks very good so far - especially the face & eyes.

However, the first thing that struck me is the foreshortening of the arm on our left. I have to assume that this is from a photograph - and even tho it is a lovely pose, i think there is some distortion going on there.

I have had the same trouble with photos myself. So much so that i have resolved to have a professional photographer take photos for me that may suggest this kind of problem.

as i am a bit of a novice myself, please take my comments as uninformed observation. :sunnysmil

Mischa, Tricia,
Thank you very much for your comments. What I'd like to achieve with this painting is a finished 'professional' looking painting. So far I was not able to get that look yet.

Tricia, I think that when photo is taken from not too close to the object with a tele lens (rather than wide angle lens) the distortions are not a problem. It is most likely the problem with my rendering. I worked a bit on the arm and hands. I will work some more and post the result later.

Mischa, I think I understand what you meant about soft and hard edges. I am not sure though that I can see the problem with lost and found edges. It would be most helpful for me if you could indicate a few 'problem areas'.
Thank you again for your advise,
Iakov

Lakov,
 

thank you for considering my suggestions. In order to give indication and a better idea of what I suggest I have used your image. I hope you do not mind. What I have touched up on is just edges the arrow indicates a lost edge.

I hope this helps.

Mischa, Thank you again for your suggestions.
I worked some more on the edges. Here is the result. I think I am almost done. However, any further comments are welcome and appreciated.
iakov

Was this painted from life?

No, this is from a photograph. I just recently discovered a life drawing studio in my town and I now enjoy going there every week. So far I did charcoal drawings there but hope to get to painting as well.