Santiago

Carolyn Ortiz · 04-15-2005, 08:34 AM

Hello all,

Well, I feel funny posting this clumsy portrait with all the beautiful pastels everyone's been posting here lately.

First my own fault finding

His right hand is probably not very good. Not sure what to do with it, perhaps have him pose his hand differently? Also for some reason it looks kind of cartooney to me, does it look that way to anyone else? The lines are actually straight on the wall the paper is just curled and wont lay flat. And lastly, his ear needs work... and probably numerous other things.

This is done on black canson mi-tientes the whole sheet so 19 x 25. And accidently on the rough side (will never do that again).

It's from a picture I took when my husband, Santiago, and I were having our last drink in Belgium before we moved to France. I've been really struggling with it since February and I am ready for this sweet face to be finished!

Thanks for looking.

Patricia Joyce · 04-15-2005, 10:11 AM

Sorry that I cannot comment on color as I am just beginning painting myself. But the drawing is excellent and I love the expression on his face!!

Jimmie Arroyo · 04-15-2005, 10:14 AM

Clumsy? As soon as I opened it, I noticed the depth and how I literally felt I was sitting a few feet away from him. I don't know if it's how well the table is rendered moving him back in space, or the darks of the sweater, but I think you've done a great job. Especially considering you worked on the rough side.

Are you still working with a limited palette, or has it grown since your last post? I'm sorry if I have the wrong person, but I think you said you only had a few. I could be mistaken. I still think you've done really good here, but even if you don't love it, it's a solid stepping stone to future work. Good luck.

ps. I still owe you something, my brain's collecting dust. I will force myself to do it right away. I promise, unless I forget.

Mike McCarty · 04-15-2005, 10:18 AM

Carolyn,

I like this composition. The beer looks very drinkable. My only comments would be that the skin tone looks very warm, even hot in some places. This could be the result of monitor translation, if not, this could be contributing to your sense of cartooning. And the hand, where the thumb meets the glass stem seems to be the highest contrast in the piece. If it were me I would lower that contrast by darkening the skin and softening that edge somewhat. Also, I might soften the top edge of the hand just a bit.

The ear looks OK to me, less is more there I think.

This looks like a very successful painting to me.

Carolyn Ortiz · 04-16-2005, 03:34 AM

Thanks Patricia, I love that expression too!

Hi Jimmie, great! Thats about how far away I was when I took the photo, so I am so happy it reads that way. Now I have about 150 pastels, so I guess it's not that limited but it still feels like it.

Quote:

even if you don't love it, it's a solid stepping stone to future work.

Thanks for that, thats music to my ears.

No worries about that other thing! Whenever, if ever you get to it, would be wonderful, even if you don't it's no problem at all. I'm sorry I don't log in here often, so this is late, but a huge congatulations to you on the ARC award!!!! What incredible news. One day soon you will be getting them for your pastels too!

Thanks for your observations Mike. I can't get a very good picture of this piece. So when I edit it in photoshop some areas get too hot. In real life they are not so saturated but maybe still a little too much. If that's what's causing the cartooney feel I hope I can correct it. The hand really does need a lot of work, today I noticed it is also too big.

Quote:

The ear looks OK to me, less is more there I think.

Great! One less thing to worry about. Thanks Mike!

Carolyn Bannister · 04-16-2005, 05:20 AM

Hi Carolyn,

I really like this, it' almost feels like you could be touching knees with him! The expression on his face is really nice and the beer looks like it would spill if you tilt the page

I'm not really qualified to make critiques but some areas on his face do look a little warm on my monitor as well.

I've always used canson myself in the past but tried Sennelier sanded for the first time with my last piece, it was definitely a revelation.

Best wishes,

Carolyn (Bannister)

ps. What's the weather like down there, I'm really not liking all this rain and cold at this time of the year

Chris Saper · 04-16-2005, 11:31 AM

Carolyn,

This is not one bit clumsy, it's beautiful, and my favorite of yours (so far).

The colors work well for me as they are, and contribute to the feeling of being in a cafe or tavern, where you would often find odd ambient light. If I were you, I'd make the suggested changes to minimize the attention the right hand is getting, frame it, and get i ton the wall. Then on to the next

Carolyn Ortiz · 04-17-2005, 04:22 AM

Thank you Carolyn! I'm really looking forward to trying a different paper for the next piece, hope it will help! I might just have a sheet of Sennelier sanded.

It's been cloudy and rainy here too and pretty cold. What a tease the weather was, just a couple weeks ago it was swim suit time, can't wait for the sun to come back! I'm off to find your last piece!

Well, Chris, you've made my day! Thank you so much for your thoughts! Time to fix those things and get it on the wall.

Julie Deane · 04-18-2005, 06:26 PM

Clumsy, Carolyn? I don't think so! I like the composition and the wistful or thoughtful facial expression. I agree with Mike that the colors seem pretty warm on my monitor too. I'll leave the finer critique to those better qualified, but my opinion is that this is very nice.

Michele Rushworth · 04-19-2005, 09:56 AM

I also like the very warm color palette. It really sets the sense of place. Like Chris, I think it's time to get this one framed and up on the wall!