Interested in your thoughts

Vickie Saadi · 07-23-2002, 01:52 AM

Hello again everyone! I am finally ready to receive your input and critique on my most recent reproduction. This portrait is that of William Bouguereau's "Cupid with a Butterfly". This is the completed first stage of the portrait in charcoal and has a measurment of 27 x 46 inches.

It would be a pleasure to hear your comments and I look foward to your evaluations. Thank you for your time!

Vickie Saadi

Lon Haverly · 07-26-2002, 03:48 PM

I am not familiar with 99.9% of the masters' artwork. I just do my own. You did a beautiful job here. Is this compressed charcoal? How did you rub it, with a stump, chamois or hand?

Perhaps the edges of the wings are a little hard. Charcoal allows you to soften things so easily. These look a little like plaster of paris (Perhaps they were!) rather than feathers.

The highlight in the eyelids is a little too confined or too high contrast.

Nicely done!

Vickie Saadi · 07-27-2002, 10:27 PM

Hi, Lon,

Thanks for your critique. Your information acutally opened my eyes up to things that I hadn't seen before. As you noted, the wings should have softened edges and I will correct that right away. I was so focused on the softening of the cupid's contour that there was not as much emphasis put on the plaster wings!

I work with compressed charcoal and I blend with a stump. I'm starting the underpainting in monochromatic values, and once completed, I will post and will look foward to your insight.

Sincerely,
Vickie Saadi