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Alexandra Tyng · 04-17-2007, 10:30 PM

Pat,

I've read about your problem in the "Creativity" section, so I have some idea of the situation.

I'm going to be really blunt. You MUST start again. No amount of fiddling and re-working is going to result in a likeness. Starting from the assumption that you need the money and want to feel the satisfaction of having completed this commission, there are two reasonable choices.

1) Use the reference photo you have, re-measure very, very carefully, and start again on a fresh canvas. There are serious errors of proportion in the portrait that I am sure you can correct, but only if you put that one aside first. If you are still having trouble, making a grid on an enlarged copy of the reference and then transferring this grid (in the correct proportions) to a canvas might help. One thing to watch out for especially is the tendency to straighten everything out. In your portrait you have made the boy totally frontal, whereas in the photo he is turned very slightly to the side.

2) You could take your own photos. There is lots of excellent advice on this forum. Even with an ordinary camera you could get results (light/shadow) superior to the photo you are using. He looks like a really appealing subject and I'm sure you could get a lot of enjoyment out of this commission with a better reference photo.

04-17-2007, 10:30 PM	#3
Alexandra Tyng UNVEILINGS MODERATOR Juried Member Joined: May 2005 Location: Narberth, PA Posts: 2,485	Pat, I've read about your problem in the "Creativity" section, so I have some idea of the situation. I'm going to be really blunt. You MUST start again. No amount of fiddling and re-working is going to result in a likeness. Starting from the assumption that you need the money and want to feel the satisfaction of having completed this commission, there are two reasonable choices. 1) Use the reference photo you have, re-measure very, very carefully, and start again on a fresh canvas. There are serious errors of proportion in the portrait that I am sure you can correct, but only if you put that one aside first. If you are still having trouble, making a grid on an enlarged copy of the reference and then transferring this grid (in the correct proportions) to a canvas might help. One thing to watch out for especially is the tendency to straighten everything out. In your portrait you have made the boy totally frontal, whereas in the photo he is turned very slightly to the side. 2) You could take your own photos. There is lots of excellent advice on this forum. Even with an ordinary camera you could get results (light/shadow) superior to the photo you are using. He looks like a really appealing subject and I'm sure you could get a lot of enjoyment out of this commission with a better reference photo.