'My Angel' composition

[Mai Ly]

Hello Everyone,

As promised, here is my work-in-progress. It is about half done. Nothing in the painting is at its final stage yet. I still have to finish the dress, put detailed designs on the cushions, background curtain, reflected lights, accents and highlights at the very end. My edges still need to be softened up also.

I would like to have some feedback for the following areas:

1. Something about the girl's face is bothering me. I think it is her left eye. Is her eye white too light? Or, is it something else that is wrong. I cannot figure it out, but I know something is not looking quite right.

2. My value pattern. How is it looking. The bottom part of the dress is hardly done, but I would like to know if my value pattern is effective.

3. Light and shadow pattern on the dress. Does it look effective?

As mentioned, I still have a lot to finish this painting. The hat will be toned down also, so it won't be as white.

If anyone sees anything else that needs improving, please let me know. I appreciate all feedback!

Sincerely,

Mai


Here is the full painting in progress:

[Mai Ly]

And here is the close up in progress:

[Chris Saper]

Dear Mai,

Yoiu have done a good job proofreading your painting, with a solid plan in mind for the next steps. In answer to the specific things you mention:

1. Yes, the eye in shadow has too much contrast, and the white of the eye is too light. Correct this first and then reevaluate.

2. The overall value pattern looks good. Until you get farther along with the background, I can't offer much helpful advice here.

3. Value pattern on the dress: you will want to have similar value shifts between light and shadow throughout areas in similar planes. Here, I see less difference between light and shadow on the dress (the skirt) than in the face or bodice.

Other things you might want to watch for:

-Reflected light on the upper lip. It looks too light to stay in the shadow.

-Reflected color. It looks to me like there is a sense of warm reflected color from the yellow pillow on the arm and dress on our left. From what it looks as if you are working with an assumed warm light source, letting the shadows be cooler. You have other opportunites to give hints of relected color from the red pillow, into the shadows of the dress face, and hat. I see that you have already addressed this in the arm in shadow.

You have mentioned already the edges and values in the hat, so it's good that you have made this part of your plan for the next stage!

Good luck,

[Mai Ly]

Thanks Chris for your advice.

Reflected color. It looks to me like there is a sense of warm reflected color from the yellow pillow on the arm and dress on our left. From what it looks as if you are working with an assumed warm light source, letting the shadows be cooler

Would you kindly clarify the above? Do you mean that I ought to have the cooler reflected light on the arm and dress on our left? If it is a warmer light source (I took this photo at around 2 -3 pm), then we have cooler shadow. Does that apply to reflected light too?

I have adjusted the eye on our right and it looks better now.

Thanks again,
Mai

[Chris Saper]

Dear Mai,

The time of day isn't necessarily relevant to color temperature, if your subject is not directly lit by sunlight. In any case, the main point is that the lights, temperatures, etc. be relative to one another in light and shadow.

The red cushion is a cool red, and is also in shadow. It is very, very difficult (quite often impossible) to judge reflected color with photographs, so as you get further along, there are some decisions you have to make because they are just best for the painting. I think you need to set up the model (best choice), dress, or at the very least, something white, against the red cushion in the same place, same lighting conditions, and study the reflected color. Begin slowly, but I think you will find a point where the dress feels integrated with its surroundings, short of painting it pink.

Good luck!

[Mai Ly]

Thanks Chris for your feedback. I am still working on my edges and reflected light as I post this. I hope to get them right.

Thanks again,

Mai

[Mai Ly]

Hello Everyone,

I just want to let everyone know that I have just posted my updated version of Angel in the Oil Critique section. I think it is now more appropriate for the stage that the painting is at.

I look forward to hear feedback from everyone in the Oil Critique section.

Sincerely,
Mai