Sepia portrait

Alicia Kornick · 05-20-2003, 11:13 PM

Here is a sepia portrait on Stonhenge paper, size 16 x 20. Please disregard the black sweaters, as I am redoing it and doing the sweaters in sepia tones. Mostly interested in your comments regarding the faces. I'll post the reference.

Thanks,
Alicia

Alicia Kornick · 05-20-2003, 11:25 PM

Here is the reference. The piece was done with Fabre Castle pastel pit pencils.
Thanks,
Alicia

Enzie Shahmiri · 05-22-2003, 11:01 AM

Dear Alicia,

I do not work in pastels so I can not offer you advice about your medium. I will tell you however the observations I have made about your drawing skills. You need to look at the little boy's face more closely.

1. If you hold a ruler from one corner of the eye to the other and compare that angle to the angle of the eyes you have drawn you will see that they are off.

2. As an artist you don't have to copy every detail of the reference photo. In this case the girl's hair touches the boy's hair, weakening the illusion of foreshortening. Get rid of that strand of hair to make the boy come forward even more.

3. The cheek area (our right) is off as well. Notice how his cheek poufs out. That stretches the skin around his chin, making the chin seem wider.

4. This is a mistake I make to this day as well. Avoid sharp lines in the face. Both individual's lips are too defines, as are his eyes. I suggest you look at the drawing done by Jimmie Arroyo. Notice how soft everything looks.

I hope these observations will be of some help. Post again so I can see the progress.

Alicia Kornick · 05-22-2003, 09:42 PM

Enzie,

Thanks for taking the time to look at this. This is my first pastel work. I have done a completely new drawing, and I did soften the mouths in that one.
I will post when I get a photo.

Thanks,
Alicia

Rochelle Brown · 05-23-2003, 04:05 PM

Alicia,

I like the reference material. The colors are pleasant and work well to my eye. It seems that the faces are stretched and distorted. The boy's face is at a tricky angle. It may be that you need more practice drawing faces. Finding faces to draw for practice can be a challenge. Sometimes it is good to take a break from the other skills you are developing and go back to simple drawing for a while.

Alicia Kornick · 05-24-2003, 10:44 PM

Thanks Rochelle for looking. I am going to Marvin Mattleson's workshop next month in North Carolina. I think he has his work cut out for him. I will continue to work on my drawing skills especially from life.

Alicia

Rochelle Brown · 05-25-2003, 06:35 PM

I'm not a teacher but I've heard some teachers tell their students to draw from a mirror once in a while. The sitter will probably stay as long as you like.

Marvin Mattelson · 05-25-2003, 10:39 PM

I'm glad you're going to be in my workshop. I look forward to meeting you there. It's a great group of people and I'll do my best to make it a well spent week.

Alicia Kornick · 05-26-2003, 10:13 PM

Hi Marvin,

I look forward to meeting you as well. I approach this workshop with, I must admit, some fear and apprehension and also great anticipation. Never having had any formal art training, I feel that I am coming late to the party where everyone has already had a few cocktails!

From what I have heard, it should be a very informative experience with a little fun and humor thrown in for good measure.

See you in June.

Alicia