Sally underpainting (in progress)

Jean Kelly · 11-07-2002, 12:34 PM

After seeing the underpainting demo by Karin Wells (Sarge), I decided to give it a try. (You're an inspiration Karin.) Please critique this as I wade through my new experiment and learning experience. It's 20" x 24" in oil on canvas. I've used raw umber and titanium white. The white is applied directly from the tube and values are mixed with a small amount of Liquin.

Thank you,
Jean

Jean Kelly · 11-07-2002, 12:36 PM

I'm adding the darkest and lightest values next. Just waiting for it to dry. Any suggestions will be appreciated!

Does anyone have any advice on painting unusual eyes? Sally has pale silver eyes, and they change from pale blue to silver to icy green depending on what her surroundings are. I want this to be the focus of the portrait, but I am not sure how to "capture" this most striking feature.

Jean

Karin Wells · 11-10-2002, 05:07 PM

Your areas of light and shadow look a little fragmented to me.

Any shadow that appears inside an area of general light needs to be lightened. For example, the shadow beside the nose on the left side is much too dark because it is surrounded by light. If you do not change this now, the shadow will begin to look like a "black hole" as you build light around it and the painting progresses into the upper layers.

That is, no shadow in the light is ever equal to any shadows on the "shadow side" of an object.

This basic principle is nearly impossible to see if you are working from a photo reference. You just have to know this and apply the information, even if you cannot "see" it.

Jean Kelly · 11-10-2002, 05:35 PM

Thank you, Karin, for taking the time to comment on this. I was hoping you would.

Sally is coming over almost daily now, and I can see what you are talking about. I used the photo for the pose and now am using her for color studies. None of the colors in her face are as strong as what I have painted. I think I am a contrast junkie, and will need to start working very hard to correct that.

I want to have the right side of the painting fade to very dark plum and have her form disappear into it. Do you see any problems with contrast there? Her eye color problem has been solved. She wants brown! We compromised on the ice green.

Jean

Jean Kelly · 11-13-2002, 03:06 PM

After looking, reading, and studying all the resources available here and on artist's sites (like William Whitaker, etc.), I've decided to paint this over and begin fresh. I feel the composition is not strong enough. Sally can be depicted in a manner that is more suitable to her personality. She deserves a more active and vibrant pose. (Plus, the whole design could have been thought out better).

I've been knocked back to day one with the addition of oil paints. My acrylic based fabric paint is actually an ink. The colors and color mixing are based on formulas for the printing industry, not artists' pigments. All that I know about color is from using these inks, and oil is a different animal! Please don't misunderstand me, I am having the time of my life and am getting down to serious study now. Sally "will" be back, but in a new and improved model!

Respectfully,
Jean