Elena

[Susan Ballinger]

I have been working on this portrait of a friend's daughter. I struggled for some time on the eyes, but they are looking somewhat better. The photo I took of the painting has somewhat lightened all of the colors. I will be sure and get my boyfriend to take a better final photo, but he is currently photographing a wedding and has taken his better cameras with him. I'm looking for direction on what needs fixed or what I can improve on. Thanks!

Susan

[Susan Ballinger]

I believe the upper lip needs to tilt up more on the right, and something is not right about the jaw line. For whatever reason it bothers me that the top of her chest is lighter than her face, but that is how it appears in the photo. Would you darken the chest so that there is more emphasis on the face?

I had put this painting down for 2-3 weeks while I finished up another, but when I came back to it, the black background rubbed off on my fingers still! I am trying to recall whether it was my ivory black or lamp black that caused this.

Susan

[Julie Deane]

Hi Susan,

I like your photo, and think it should work just fine.

Before you go any further with your painting, though, I think you need to look very carefully at the drawing and proportions. I find it helps to put painting and photo next to each other on the computer. I need all the extra ways of seeing things with a fresh eye that I can, so am suggesting that, as well as putting an overlay of the photo over the painting as a way of checking things out.

Image this little girl's head as a cube, with the face portion of that cube facing towards the light. Right now parts of the lower face extend below that basic cube. Does that analogy help?

[Susan Ballinger]

Thanks for the reply Julie. I will see what I can do about overlaying them. I have photoshop, just need to see what I can manage. Things somehow become so much more obvious when I look at a photo of it. Perhaps it is simply because its easier to see the image as a whole when it is smaller.

I am trying to wrap my head around what you're saying about the cube. Do you mean that the length of the head is too long in relation to the depth of it?

I had to laugh at your other post about warning labels on art supplies.

Susan

[Julie Deane]

Yes, that's right, Susan. Right now it seems that the face is too long compared to the width. It will become obvious with the overlay.
If you don't want to do a techie overlay, do the low-tech way with tracing paper.

[Julie Deane]

Here's a general idea of what I mean by making it a cube (even though I didn't put the whole shape in). Sometimes simplification into basic forms aids in visualization.

[Susan Ballinger]

I know there's still lots to learn, but I got to a point with this one that I felt happy with what I'd accomplished. So it has been signed and delivered to her very happy parents. On to the next painting to see what I can learn from it!

Susan

[Julie Deane]

Much improved, Susan. I look forward to seeing what other great strides you will take in a short time!