Expectant Mother

Kimberly Dow · 07-21-2003, 03:35 PM

I am going to post several different shots here of my friend. This is my first time photographing purposely for a painting (besides landscapes). My references have always been given to me or snap shots. This is not a commission. I have tried to utilize tips I have read here.

My concerns are as follows:

1. Her eyes are looking down, but on the monitor, unless enlarged, they look closed.

2. I am torn as to where to crop on the belly, so I will post 2 different crops.

3. I want to get rid of the fence and do a painterly background of greenery, but will that look strange since I am not showing she is on a porch, as if to ask why isn't she in sunlight like the greenery behind her?

4. The one I will post taken inside with natural light coming throught the window I like, but not how her hair darkens at the top of her head. Plus, the wall colors are hideous - how would I change this & keep yet keep it similar.

These are cropped tightly to show the details, I will add more space around her when I paint. Any help would be appreciated. Feel free to digitally manipulate them.

Thank you!

Kimberly Dow · 07-21-2003, 03:42 PM

Let's see if it works this time!

Kimberly Dow · 07-21-2003, 03:44 PM

Ok, different height on the crop of her belly. I can go down farther, but I can't post that since her panties show and she would never forgive me. If I did go lower I could pull the fabric over the panties.

Kimberly Dow · 07-21-2003, 03:45 PM

Sorry, here it is.

Kimberly Dow · 07-21-2003, 03:47 PM

Close up of face.

Kimberly Dow · 07-21-2003, 03:49 PM

Here is one of the interior shots.

Timothy C. Tyler · 07-21-2003, 04:02 PM

Kim, I like the color better on the inside shots. The outside ones are the same temp. and there's a core shadow that's pretty hard to handle. I'm not sure the bare belly is needed, the form would say it all. The belly rather competes with the face and hands for attention for me. I think less may be more.

Outside, try to block reflected light and establish stronger shadows. The greens and background are pretty much moot I think.

Mike Dodson · 07-21-2003, 04:34 PM

Kimberly,

I totally agree with Tim on the outside pictures concerning temperature. I also think that the background is way too busy.

The interior photograph I like: a) the dark shadow on her hair that is hanging down provides a nice contrast to her face b) abstract colors in the background c) like the drapery, it works well with the background.

I don't like, as Tim stated, the belly showing. Could you take another photo (same lighting, pose) but have her belly covered with the drapery and have her hands positioned resting on her belly? This would certainly remove any doubt that she is an expectant mother.

Michele Rushworth · 07-21-2003, 05:07 PM

My favorite would be the image below, cropped as shown. The subject, lighting, pose and background (minus the house) are lovely.

Showing her belly, bare or not, wouldn't be something that would be likely to get you a lot of commissions as a traditional portrait artist, unless you really wanted to do a series of commissions of pregnant women. People will commission you to create the types of paintings shown in your portfolio.

This image would make a beautiful painting but that's not necessarily the same thing as creating a successful portfolio sample.

The types of things you see in the portfolios on SOG of the long-time pros are more universal and generic in nature. The people depicted in them are fairly standard types designed to appeal to the widest possible audience.

If you already had a portfolio of a dozen terrific samples of traditional subjects in traditional poses, I'd say, go for it. Otherwise I wouldn't use a painting of a preganat woman with a very prominent belly as one of your first pieces in which you were working from a well lighted, well composed reference photo.

Kimberly Dow · 07-21-2003, 05:10 PM

Tim & Mike,

Thank you for the input.

OK, I will try the interior shot again tomorrow with the belly covered. Subtlety, I guess I need to learn that. It does not come naturally I'm afraid.

How would I block the reflected light outside and create deeper shadows? To our left is concrete and a pool - a large sheet hung on that side of the porch?