Fran & Terry, in progress

[Cinda Gazaway]

I'm posting a charcoal sketch which I did with some flesh tones to work out the gesture of the couple.

I am not happy with the position of the man's left hand. It gives an appearance of being too short from shoulder to elbow and the looks awkward to me. I am waiting for this couple to pose for me so that I can arrange both of the man's hands more naturally. You'll notice I haven't given him a right hand at all yet.

In this pose, the man is actually leaning forward with his right arm resting on the back of the woman's chair. He is seated on a higher level stool behind her. She has her arm resting on the arm of the chair (which I have not pictured at all).

My main focus at this stage was to capture the cuddling gesture of the couple. I know the couple personally and they are so affectionate towards one another. I feel it's important to reflect this in the final painting. Also, the woman has always a dazzling smile with dimples. To have her not smiling would be to not recognize her as she is. How do I represent her smiling without looking photographic?

Cinda Gazaway

[Jeanine Jackson]

This is going to be wonderful!

I particularly like the way you have made his skin tones a value darker and less chromatic than hers.

For the smile, paint the teeth cylinder by making back teeth darker, and cast a shadow under the upper lip.

Avoid the clumsy foreshortening of the man's hand by sliding it down along her arm (not too far off the canvas!) and spread a few fingers.

Just my two cents on a million-dollar subject!

[Cinda Gazaway]

Jeanine,

Thank you for the suggestion about the man's arm and the encouragement. I'll post the next stage as soon as the couple are able to pose for me again.
Cinda