Anna

Barbara Hudson · 10-12-2002, 02:20 PM

Hello everybody,

This is a portrait that I am struggling with. I don't seem to be 'capturing' her, there is something missing that I cannot put my finger on.

I have thought carefully about her characteristics, which are that she tends to hold her mouth at an angle and lift the eyebrow above at the same time.

She seem to have somehow lost her youthfulness in the painting.

I have tidied up her hair at her request.

It is, of course unfinished in a few areas. I feel that I have to be satisfied with her face before I move on to the other areas.

Can anybody guide me as to where I am going wrong?

I have attached the reference photograph.

Thank you,

Barbara

Barbara Hudson · 10-12-2002, 02:23 PM

Close up of here face

Barbara Hudson · 10-12-2002, 02:25 PM

Reference photograph

Peter Jochems · 10-12-2002, 05:27 PM

Hello Barbara,

A few comments I would like to make. Because you made the part of her face above the eyebrow on the left much lighter than in the photograph, it appears to be more massive; the form of her head changes this way in the painting.

I think much of the 'older' look has to do with the area on the left side (for us, left) of her face. The lip below is livelier in the photograph. Changing the form a bit and adding highlight will make her smile a bit on the painting, like she does on the photograph. In the source photograph, the shadow of her cheek (left of the nose and mouth) is a bit darker, therefore she has a livelier appearance in the photo. Also, the white of her right eye (for us, right) is a bit too light on the right side. You changed her hair a bit, but I think that the form of her chin and the shadow on the left side of her face in the photo is a bit different than how you painted it. Therefore, her face looks a bit 'sharper' in the photograph.

Did you make the source photograph yourself? Her eyes are very dark, I would advise you to make source photographs which show the eyes clearly.

Greetings,
Peter

Barbara Hudson · 10-14-2002, 12:18 AM

Dear Peter,

Thank you for taking the time to look and comment Peter. Everything that you have said makes sense and I will act on it today.

Since posting this, I have discovered (from another artist, a way of using Photoshop to compare the stage you are at in your painting with the reference photograph. You have probably used or heard of it...using transparencies to overlay and compare?

Well, it is very new to me, and it will prove invaluable in my portrait work.

I will post the new improved Anna when it is finished. With the help of my new discovery,it should be this week.

Thank you again Peter.

Cynthia Daniel · 10-14-2002, 12:23 AM

Barbara,

If you use the "search messages" feature, and search on tranparency you should find some earlier posts on this, probably in the Computer Corner.

Barbara Hudson · 10-14-2002, 11:04 AM

Hello everybody.

Thank you Cynthia for your advise. There is quite a lot in the 'search messages' on transparencies and I will peruse them all.

I have been practicing with Photoshop today. It has highlighted a few problem areas on her face.

I have worked today to correct some of the areas and I think that I have nearly completed her face, that is unless you can see anything else that I may have missed. A fresh pair of eyes can nearly always pick up something that has been missed.

The photograph is not very good, it was photo'd in artificial light as the weather in Belgium is so bad today and it has hardly been light all day, so the colours are not true.

I will continue on her body tomorrow.

Thank you for looking.

Cynthia Daniel · 10-14-2002, 12:13 PM

Barbara,

On second thought, I'm afraid you're going to be running into a lot of discussion regarding photographic transparencies. I just know what you mentioned has been brought up a couple of times on the Forum. I found one of them and all it said was that the artist printed the transparency and overlaid the painting. There really wasn't any technical information. So, perhaps that not particulary helpful. Sorry!

Jim Riley · 10-15-2002, 12:18 AM

Transparencies

I have occasionally used computer-generated inkjet transparencies to double check my drawing/proportions and find it a very helpful aid. I use this device after years of life drawing training and practice. I still attend a local figure workshop to keep my hand and eye able, and cannot stress too strongly the need to develop this skill. It will help you learn what lies behind the shadows, hair, clothing, etc., and to better understand how they connect and how to capture those same forms in your composition.

Using conventional or digital photographs which I then scan and edit for my reference material, I begin my freehand drawing/layout on canvas until I am pleased with the composition, proportions, sizes, and the spirit of the painting. At this point I create a very high contrast black and white of the face in Photoshop and save it at the same size as the canvas drawing. From this file I make a black print on ink jet transparency film. 3M, among others, makes this film for use with overhead projectors. You can now overlay this film to your drawing to make certain that you have not made critical drawing errors. Don't be tempted to project the drawing to begin with as this will yield a static copy that even the most seasoned pro would avoid.

You have made some good corrections and have done a good job with a very difficult photograph. I can't imagine any circumstances under which I would tackle a portrait with the lighting/shadows you are working with. I would suggest that you lighten the upper lip and show more of its form. Otherwise it adds to the hardness/aging of the subject.

I attended a computer graphics workshop outside of Brussells and will never forget my visit to Brugge on our free weekend, and now go out of my way to find Belgium beers.

Barbara Hudson · 10-15-2002, 06:44 AM

Thank you Jim. I'm glad that I'm not the only artist who uses the 'Photoshop assistant'! It is very new to me and I wasn't sure whether it might be regarded as cheating.

In my humble opinion, anything that can help with my venture into portraits I would not hesitate in using. After all, proportions have to be spot on, otherwise it will never look right.

I hadn't realised until I used it how far out my drawing was! Besides all the little things that were slightly out on her face, her hand was way out, and I mean way, way out!

I think that I was concentrating so much on the face that I ignored the obvious.

Anyway, I will stop enthusing about my Photoshop assistant and get back to the portrait.

I have done as much as I can do until next week because I have a 'bread and butter' watercolour to complete before the end of the week.

I will attach a pic of where it stands at this moment, just in case anybody spots something. Anything that you can suggest to improve it further will be much appreciated.

Oh, by the way Jim, about the Belgian beers. Chimay is my favorite and I love it. And yes, Brugge is wonderful. Unfortunately, I live in Mons which is about an hour away. Mons is depressing! Can't wait to move back to the UK!

Thank you again, Jim, for looking and all your useful advise. You never know, one day I may be an expert and I may be able to help you out!

Barbara