Speculation

Debra Jones · 02-10-2002, 07:39 PM

I have talked a friend of high standing in the community into letting me donate a portrait of her for a Women's Shelter being named in her honor. She is a good kid, all around and I cajoled her into it. I have a few months, as they just had a ground breaking, and I am in it for the press release. I am hoping for entree to the big name crowd but as I am doing it all from sheer guts, I am painting myself into a corner.

Here is her first sketch on a 20x24 inch canvas.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/i...02/Jewelwc.jpg
She loved it. Only I am not all that experienced in working from photos. And I only have only one. And am deleting her husband from it. At this point I made the mistake of asking if there were any favorite colors and she said purple. Here is my second step and I am stuck:
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/i...002/jewel2.jpg
I had intended on making a glowing dark background and am totally at a loss for how to glaze it back. All of my previous work is alla prima and although the size is somewhat daunting, my lack of skill and familiarity with the technique I have attempted are leaving me at a dead stop.

I have softened the skin tones a bit from this shot and am not worried about the features, although from this photo they appear to be shrinking. I am relatively confident I will be able to relate the finished head to the environment when I get it done, but have definately no clue as to how to achieve that environment at this point.

Although this is a critique forum, are you open for mid-process suggestions and instruction? I would appreciate it!

Stanka Kordic · 02-11-2002, 08:50 AM

Debra,

I love it! Your style is so fresh, and energetic. I would hesitate in working it too much more for fear of losing that.

I'm not sure of where your concerns lie about the background. If you want it darker, wait until it's totally dry to go back in. I would keep it dark, with a hint of that violet and really swish the paint around back there, losing some of the edges of her hair as well. If you can find some Ray Kinstler portraits to look at, he handles this type of 'finish' really well.

When you get additional commissions (which you will) RAISE YOUR PRICES! You're good!!

Peggy Baumgaertner · 02-11-2002, 10:34 AM

Debra,

I'm liking the drama of the dark purple background next to her face, but I think it is too dark. You are likely to paint yourself into a corner if you continue around the rest of the head. The darkness will "swallow" the wonderful head you have developed. I suspect that is why you have instinctively stopped yourself cold at this juncture. The push/pull of value in the background will pop that head forward in three dimension, so you do want to continue around the head. Personal opinion, but if your aim is to get commissions from this entry, I would present a finished portrait as opposed to a "sketch." The head, with the exception of the hair treatment, is "done," so to complete the painting, you would only need to do the background, hair, and clothing. (I know, I know, Stanka, part of what is really nice about the painting at this point is the freshness--but I think that if you want to commission strong finished portraits, that is what you must show. The trick is to preserve that freshness in a finished product.)

Back to the background, lighten the background to a middle value and continue it around the back of the head and shoulders. A pet peeve of mine, making swirlies of mismatched paint colors and values for the background. All that activity distracts from the head, and never happens in nature, just in those weird camouflage backgrounds they use at Owen Mills Portrait Studios. Make the background color by mixing, say, cad orange, quinacridone rose or alizarin, and viridian. (Dioxazine purple could also be used). If it getts too dark, lighten with, say, a light blue like king's blue. Make all the colors in the background the same value. This will give you a nice muted "brown" which will run towards the purple. Mix the colors on the canvas, not on the palette.

If you are concerned about losing the freshness, leave the clothing the way it is, but I do think you need to complete the background. You can tippy toe in with washes if you feel some trepidation.

An inspired piece! I love the solidity.

Peggy