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Originally Posted by Leslie Ficcaglia
Barbara, I too think you've done a marvelous job with a less-than-ideal reference photo.
A couple of suggestions: you've already softened the girl's face and taken away a lot of that hard, posed stare, but softening the indentations on either side of her mouth might help even more. You may have some reference photos that will help you see how to make that smile look a bit more natural. Her upper lip also has a little more definition in the photo; you have it slightly narrower which accentuates the hard look.
The other thing is that her back and shoulder on our left side look a bit off in the painting because in the photo the dark collar of her top shows a little more depth where it changes direction at the left and goes around under her chin. That makes it read as though the shoulder and back are a bit straighter than you have them in the painting - straight not in the sense of being horizontal but in the sense of being smoother . Also, the collar of that top comes up higher where it goes around the back of her neck in the photo. Both of these details give her shoulder a much more natural slope. Hope you can see what I mean here!
Leslie
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Dear Leslie,
Thank you so much for your help and advice. I have printed out your suggestions and I intend to follow them up today.
I was tempted to soften the corners of her mouth more but a little nervous that I may take away her 'likeness', but I think that you are right and it needs to be done. I hadn't noticed the upper lip difference and I will also follow that up.
Regarding the collar, I do see what you mean! I will also correct that today. These are all the 'little things' that I think we tend to lose sight of because we have worked too long on an area in a painting that is problematic, and the little 'tweaks' that are added when a painting is nearing an end are so important as I'm sure you know yourself. So as reluctant as I am to put it back on the easel (yet again), I will finish it and put it back to bed today, and then (hopefully) forget it.
Thank you once again for your help, it really is so much appreciated.
Take care,
Barbara
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