Sample portrait
 

This is a photo of my youngest son that I plan to paint and display as a sample portrait in a high traffic gallery. I don't like the sidewalk behind him and am going to take photos of my flower garden for the background. Any suggestions?

Renee Price

Sample portrait
 

I don't know... I'd leave it in and crop the picture at the top, just above where the grass edge ends, putting a space above the boy's head of approximately the height of his forehead and hair. The darkness there serves as a stop, leaving the sidewalk to lead the eyes back to the boy. I would suggest that you get the picture under developed or work it on your computer to lighten the shadows on the face so to see what is happening there. Depending how you would handle it, I think that it would make a good painting.

Be very careful about how you handle the left leg and foot. I would do a careful drawing of the leg and foot position, unclothed, to make sure it "reads" well. This is one case where I think it would be worth while to take additional pictures or look through the available photos for a "softer" position on that left leg.

Peggy

Thank you Tom and Peggy for your advice! As far as the sidewalk is concerned, what if I extended the sidewalk to the edge of the canvas to lead the eye to my son's face?

Peggy, I agree with your comment about his left leg. If I can't make or find a better picture of his legs, I will make sure to do a lot of sketches before I start to paint!

Thanks again,
Renee

Sample portrait
 

If the sidewalk would lead the eye into the subject, it would also lead the eye out from the subject. So my thinking would be that you would want something at the end of the sidewalk as a stopper.

This makes a cute photograph, but I think that it would NOT make a good painting.:thumbsdow

Watch out, that back foot does not even begin to "explain itself"...i.e., we know it is a foot, but it doesn't look much like one. Even if could draw as well as Peggy Baumgaertner, I wouldn't attempt it.

If this is a piece that you plan to use to get more work, grab your camera and get a better photo to work from...it will certainly pay off in the long run.

Your son is soooo cute! :thumbsup: Dress him up in something more "paintable". Plan a background, set up your lighting and go for it. Try to get a "closed mouth" shot to work with.

Thank you Karin!

Here's my favorite picture out of a bunch I took the other day. Let me know what you think of this one.

Renee

This one is better for light and pose...but you'd have to "make up" his right foot if it isn't on your original photograph.

Or you could crop the legs, but it would be nice to include the hands and that would be tricky given this pose...

Nothing is easy, is it?

How bout this?