I got lucky

[Patricia Joyce]

I've been commissioned by the convent I used to work for do to a painting of Sr Juanita who is a clebrity in Cleveland for her radio show and her visibility in local politics. Sr. also happends to be a good friend of mine and I can't wait to start the painting after the new year. I am trying to decide if I should do another photo shoot, what do you think? She asked could she have a keepsake with her in the portrait, and I said yes, of course. She chose a picture of her mother -oh no!

[Mischa Milosevic]

Pat, I understand your excitement and also your desire to make this commission the best that you can.

The shots that you have posted are good. I do suggest, being that she is a friend that you ask her for another photo session. Why do I say this? I speak from personal experience. For a portrait such as you have here have as many photos as possible. When you start planing the painting and the space that it will occupy on that linen. You will be glad that you do have enough info to work from. I would take some photos outside, as well, in order to capture the beauty of color variation on black skin. Her bright light blue top you will find will dominate and this is why outside light shots for the elimination of the face will come in handy. You can use the inside shots to compose but the outside shots will give you more info for the actual portrait.

I like the middle pose but not the chair. In this pose I would place her left hand on the arm chair the framed photo of her mother on a table beside her with her elbow of her right hand resting on the table and hand slightly touching the picture.

I like the bottom 3rd pose more so being that her stature is more graceful but would have her turn three quarter rather than the profile. The framed picture of her mother fits well with this pose. This is where a few outside shots would be handy giving the face more illumination.


I hope I was able to give you some food for thought. I am sure what ever you decide will bee real good.

[Julie Deane]

Hi Patty,

I finally get to see what your friend looks like! What a great face!

I like pose #3 best too.

Can the photo be on a table or something, a little bit behind her or off to the side? That way it would look more naturally part of the scene.

[Alexandra Tyng]

Patty,

You ARE lucky! (Though, knowing a little about your positive karma, I'm not sure this is merely luck.) She is a great subject with a wonderful face.

I would definitely have her back for another photo-shoot. You should feel entirely justified taking 50-100 photos of her with variations in pose and lighting.

Natural light would be ideal, I think. The cool highlights would compliment (and complement) the warm, deep skin tones. You could pose her inside, by a window, as you did, and take advantage of the shadows as well as the light.

If she insists on having the photo of her mother in the portrait, I think it would be better to find other ways to show the photo. The first thing people seem to do is hold the object out in front of them in a show-and-tell way, like in a snapshot. In a portrait, that is going to look silly. If the photo were on a table that might work or on a wall. If you can find a way of putting it in a plane behind her, she will remain the focus of the portrait. You could also turn the photo of her mother into a portrait over a mantle. As long as you have the reference photo. there are many was to use it.

I am very struck by her regal posture. She would be striking in a standing position. If you do pose her sitting, I suggest that you make sure she is sitting upright and not leaning back.

Good luck with this, Pat. It sure is a wonderful opportunity in many ways..

[Allan Rahbek]

Patty,
I agree with Alex that she would be great standing. The dress is very stylish and a wonderful compliment to her skin colors.
When you photograph her, make sure that the camera is about shoulder height. And, yes, natural light.......... Do you know about any place with light walls and skylight windows?

[Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco]

Patty, if I may add something I'd also suggest that, since she is seems to be such a communicator, she looked at the viewer in the painting.
I know she is also a religious woman, so she could have this quite meditative expression, but I think this would be a stronger painting.
If you go back, maybe you can bring with you a coloured piece of cloth to hang or drape behind her, it would help you bring out brighter accents in her skin.
I don't know why but if I had this commission I would instinctivly start on a strongly tinted ground.
Best of luck
Ilaria

[Chris Saper]

Dear Patty,

She will be a gorgeous subject to paint! I agree that you must absolutely take more photos. Here are some thoughts.

When you take the next photos, photograph her both with her glasses on and without. Regardless of whether you paint her with the glasses, you