|
Barbara,
I really like your concept and color choices.
About the hands, I agree with the suggestions Chris has made. I was going to say that, if your model has to leave before you can take some more shots of her hands, you could ask someone else to pose and try a couple of other hand positions. But Chris beat me to it! When I'm doing a commissioned portrait I always schedule several sittings even if I have to do the entire thing by reference photos, because I don't often anticipate the details I need or the changes and adjustments I feel are necessary once I look at all the photos.
I would also take another look at the face. The farther (right) eye and nose seem to be in proportion to each other, but the nearer (left) eye is placed too high. If you look at the reference photo, there is a very slight downward slant from L to R (I'm referring to the picture plane now) which is lost in the translation. The mouth in the photo also slants down compared to the mouth in the painting. This discrepancy gives her a different, slightly tense, expression, and the near side of her face has become too elongated. Yes, and the forehead is a different size and shape. These measurement problems all stem, I am guessing, from the incorrect eye slant. If you correct it, the other proportions will fall into place.
I hope I am not being too discouraging. The likeness is really almost there.
Alex
|