Samantha

Jeanine Jackson · 10-22-2005, 12:23 AM

This thread begins with the charcoal sketch on linen for an oil portrait 48" x 36." My plan is to have the background and floor very dark and the subject in a pink dress with white ribbons. My objective is to keep all elements secondary to Samantha and let them serve to direct attention to her sweet, intelligent face.

The photo source cannot be posted. The model will return for additional sittings.

Comments welcome and with your indulgence, I shall post progress.

Jeanine Jackson · 10-22-2005, 12:53 PM

Here is a small color note to better explain my plan.

Patricia Joyce · 10-22-2005, 01:32 PM

Hi Jeanine,
Very good to see you back on the forum. I am looking forward to what you do with this sweet subject.

Good luck!

Alexandra Tyng · 10-22-2005, 09:13 PM

Hi Jeanine,

I don't think we've "met." This looks interesting; I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with this concept.

Alex

Jeanine Jackson · 10-27-2005, 02:03 PM

Here she is in phase 2 on linen. The oil sketch knocked off all the charcoal as intended. I'm not sure why other artists use a fixative over their charcoal sketches on canvas. It seems like one more layer to worry about potentially causing separation or cracking a hundred years from now.

The drawing was refined. Her left shoe concerns me and my plan is to revisit it in relation to the floor once I get that in.

The model will return next week by which time I hope to have the wash and underpainting completed so I may focus on colors.

I am finding the new image size limitations challenging and hope this reads well enough for your kind review. (The lines in detail photo are darkened here and are actually closer in color to full-size image.) The red you see is a happy accident from the rag I used.

With this forum's kind indulgence, I will post additional images as this progresses. As always, comments are treasured.

Lacey Lewis · 10-27-2005, 06:13 PM

Hello,

I think the color sketch looks very promising, and it looks like it will be a beautiful painting.

I would love to see every step of the way on this, so I say post away!

Linda Champanier · 10-28-2005, 12:45 PM

Jeanine,

What a lovely start! The pose has such great subtle curves, which are evolving very nicely as you progress. It's very relaxed and natural, and the slight tilt to Samantha's head is charming. I love the color sketch and the concept of the dark background.

I think the left foot question may be resolved by a small adjustment to the center of the outer edge of her foot. It looks like it's going slighly concave in a place that would not curve that way.

I can't wait to see more!

Cheers,
Linda

Claudemir Bonfim · 10-28-2005, 02:49 PM

It will be lovely and beautiful.
Looking forward to see more of it.

Jeanine Jackson · 10-28-2005, 06:53 PM

Linda, so nice to "see" you here! Thank you for your keen observations and comment about her shoe. I am painting it from life as well as the photo and while accurate, it is not reading properly. I shall try your suggestion!

To all: Your comments are encouraging and helpful. Thank you!

Normally, I tone the entire canvas. Something about this primed linen is too absorbent to wipe back easily. I kind of like the richness of its tooth therefore went with it for background only. Everything you see hear was ragged on.

My main concern is that I may have made the subect too small. My consolations are that I plan to keep everthing else dark and secondary and I like the composition for her placement within a real room.

I can't wait to get my brushes into this! I am forcing myself to live with it in each phase to evaluate before moving on.

Michele Rushworth · 10-28-2005, 08:56 PM

Quote:

My main concern is that I may have made the subect too small.

I like the amount of room you have around her. I think too many artists jam their subjects into a too-tight space and crop too closely. I especially like this amount of space around a child, to remind us of how small they are.