Last minute doubts

[Grethe Angen]

Mischa, you do wonders. Thanks. All of a sudden the canvas does not look too big. I kind of like the hint of his book shelf as part of the background. I do not mind the suggestions about the chin you made, but he tend to loose his character a bit. This is of course impossible to tell, so i will post a picture of my sitter.since I do appreciate this first hand advice

[Debra Norton]

Grethe, one thing I was taught in school that I think you should keep in mind is this: The placement of the top of the head. The father down the head is, the less authority the person appears to have. I would think of a doctor as a person of authority and want to place his head higher in the cropping if I were you.

I think another thing I would do is lower the value of his jacket so that the brightness of it doesn't draw the eye too much. That will help the viewer to look at his face. I like the way Mischa moved the bookshelf closer.

As for sizing for head and shoulders I've done anything from 15x19 to 18x25, of course that's in inches. I think 16x20 is a pretty common size. I prefer to map out the composition and then decide on the size according to the compostion. I look for interesting negative spaces, trying not to repeat shapes.

If I do a full size cartoon before painting my cropping is decided in the cartoon stage. If I start out right on canvas taped to a board I always make sure I have a bigger canvas than I think I need so I can crop it later and still have room to hang onto it with the canvas pliers.

I think posting the picture will be a help here also.

[Allan Rahbek]

Grethe,
I think that you have had many good suggestions here and I have but a few thoughts to add.

The forehead looks a bit distorted so I straightened the reference to make the top and button sides parallel and also widened the picture.

I think that you could lighten the shadow side of his head and also darken the collar/shirt and also the shadow side of his white coat. I have done a little here and there, you'll see where.

You have done a very fine job for a first portrait, take your time with it.

[Grethe Angen]

Debra, thank you very much for the information and your helpful suggestion, very much appreciated.
Allan, thank you so much, it is beginning to look much better.already.
I will go for most of the ideas here.
Yes, I will take my time to get it right so I can feel comfortable about this work. He is also a good friend and allows me to set the deadline as I wish. although he has seen it and wanted to put it on his wall, right away. But I am glad I had second thoughts about it, and so happy to be part of this forum.