My New Self-Portrait

[Judson Eneas]

What critiques can you give this self-portrait?

Just out of curiosity; what do you think of my series of still-lives at; http://www.UncleRabbit1.blogspot.com ?

[Mary Cupp]

Judson, you need to work on your drawing. The problem I see is that your modeling of form and volume is inconsistent and thus creates cut into or sunken areas where you should have full volumes. The wrinkles in clothing should still reveal the form of the body underneath, not confuse it. Your understanding of anatomy needs work. For example the joining of the neck to the shoulders is not convincing.

Do you have access to a drawing from the model session? I think you would benefit greatly. I would also recommend that you practice simple basic forms. Look at examples of Cezanne and how he reduced objects to the sphere, the cone, and the cylinder. Try to simplify these forms in your work.

[Judson Eneas]

I think that I was working from a bad photograph. I don't know how to take professional photographs.

[Mary Cupp]

Yes, photos can be a problem. When a photo is not adequate you often just can't make up for it. Diffused light is best when you are trying to see form. If your lights and shadows are too pronounced they will cut into the forms making it difficult to make up what is not there in the photo. Do you have a digital camera? Digital is very helpful as you can take many shots and keep only the best ones.

I hope I didn't come down on you too hard because there are many things I like about the painting. I like the arresting quality of the pose as if someone has just come in the room and gotten your attention. It definitely makes direct connection with the viewer. But I think the drawing problem distracts from the rest of the painting.

Another artist I think you might take a look at is Holbein - especially his drawings - because he simplifies the big shapes and volumes in the body of his subjects so well.

If this were my painting I would probably let it dry and then go back and rework it. But first I would scrape any wet paint from the problem areas so it doesn't build up too much. Sometimes when I do this I can overwork the painting and run it into the ground, but other times it works and I can bring the painting to a new level. I suggest turning it to the wall or covering it and waiting awhile so that when you come back you can have a fresh vision. When your vision is fresh, as opposed to when you are just tinkering, you can often get a very good result in reworking.