Riley

Mary Sparrow · 07-11-2002, 02:03 PM

I need some opinions. While taking pictures of this girl's sister, I snapped a few of Riley lying here. Her mother loves this and wants it painted. What do you think?

Stanka Kordic · 07-12-2002, 08:36 AM

Hi Mary,

I would paint this in a minute. It's a wonderful example of the beauty and variations in the color white. The composition is interesting and natural as well. The window is the only thing I would change. Perhaps making it a blank wall, light in color, receding.. The vertical lines of the sofa help bring the eye up away from the strong horizontals. I wouldn't make the stripes so dark, just a tad lighter. You may have to design the folds slightly to bring the compostion back to the girl. It reminds me so much of Cassat's Girl in the Blue Chair. Go for it!

P.S. How's that baby doing??

Mike McCarty · 07-12-2002, 10:47 AM

Hi Mary,

I like this photo as well. I wonder what you think of this slight modification, removing some of the material from the couch back behind her.

Michele Rushworth · 07-15-2002, 11:16 PM

Nice classic pose. I think the modification Mike suggested with additional stripes takes too much attention away from the face. I like all the whites, too. The head seems oddly disconnected from the rest of the figure. Maybe it's the lighting. Did you use a fill flash?

Mary Sparrow · 07-16-2002, 07:05 PM

Here's a different pose I am considering.

Chris Saper · 07-16-2002, 07:31 PM

Hi Mary,

Beautiful lighting and expressions in both photos!

I like the placement of the legs and feet much more in the second photo, and I like the hands in the lap better, too. I find the white fabric distracting in both, though, mainly since it hides some of the child's head. Painting all those folds is something I wouldn't have the temperament (nor the skill) to do, particularly in such a haphazard fashion. I guess I would probably want to at least arrange them in a directional fashion to support movement to the center of interest, which is something I would never try to invent. By the way, I very much like the stripes as a counter-balancing directional; I would also be in favor of reducing their contrast.

Since you already have the mom on board as a willing client, why don't you go back and take more film? You already have a successful formula for the lighting and pose. However if you decide to go with your photos on hand, I think you can easily and successfully combine the two.

Gisele Zeitler · 07-16-2002, 08:28 PM

Hi, Mary,

What lovely, natural, unposed moments. I think they would make beautiful subjects for portraits.

Perhaps the disconnection Michele mentioned is due to the top of the dress being pushed forward, and not resting against the little girl's body. I've pushed it back a little in the attached photo; what do you think? Does the head look more attached to the body?

Michele Rushworth · 07-16-2002, 09:57 PM

Yes, it looks much better. Like others have mentioned, I love all the colors in the whites. Fun to paint!

Mike McCarty · 07-16-2002, 10:07 PM

The one thing that distracts me is the way the fabric, behind the girl, rises above the couch. This, to me, is an odd shape. I think if you can reshape, or eliminate this element you will have plenty of information using the two photos to create a beautiful painting.

Gisele Zeitler · 07-16-2002, 10:26 PM

After looking at the two pictures side-by-side, I think the second one is better for several reasons. One, as Chris said, the hands and feet are in a better position for a portrait, and two, the girl's face is prettier. Since I'm so crazy about photo editing, I couldn't help but play with this one, too. I brought the bodice's shoulder down (which is pushed up and forward like in the first picture), and I also brought her head up just a little, so it would align better with her body. I brought the pillow up with her, so that it would continue to look like she's resting in it. Hope you like it.