Stephan

Julie Gerleman · 08-14-2002, 04:46 PM

I am almost done with this pastel of Stephan and I really need a fresh pair (or several pairs!) of eyes to help me tweak. The light I shot him in was pretty diffuse late afternoon light, so I found a pretty even distribution of cool and warm temperature shades, regardless of value. Also, the lighting didn't produce the kind of dramatic shadows I like - oh well! I am sending along the reference photo as well.

Thank you, in advance, for your comments and help!

Warm regards,
Willow

Julie Gerleman · 08-14-2002, 04:50 PM

Here is the photo...

08-22-2002, 04:05 AM

Hi, Willow.

Good job. The only thing I notice is his nose is rounder on the end in real life. Yours is a bit too pointy.

Oh and maybe it needs a little more warmth on the side the light's coming from?

Great portrait.

Julie Gerleman · 08-22-2002, 10:51 AM

Nice catch, Cheryl.

I totally missed that about the nose. Funny how you can stare at something for hours on end then miss something so simple.

Thanks for replying.

Warm regards,

Cynthia Daniel · 08-22-2002, 02:50 PM

Willow,

To my eye, I would say his left nostril (when viewing it) also looks more flat than in the photo.

Meredith Wagenknecht · 08-23-2002, 09:50 AM

Hi, Willow.

LOVE that name, by the way. This is great. Looser than my style, of which I'm envious! I'll make an attempt to offer advice, but remember, it's just my opinion. The side of his face on the viewer's right seems a little too rounded in your rendering. In the photo, his face seems a tad more angular, doesn't it? Also, as I darted my eyes back and forth between the 2, I felt that in your drawing, his neck is too far to the viewer's right. Draw an imaginary line from the edge of his neck (on both sides) up into his face and see the relationship to "landmarks", i.e., edge of nose, eyes, etc. If you do this, I hope you see what I mean! Do you intend to do more with the bottom? I'm so happy there's a section now for pastels, aren't you? Thank you Cynthia! Take care Willow, and I hope this helps.

Meredith Wagenknecht · 08-23-2002, 09:57 AM

Willow,

Sorry to bother you again, but as I write this, I don't have your postings in front of me. As I went back, I noticed two more things which leaped out at me. First, in your drawing, the subject's mouth appears to be more open than in the reference photo. Also, in the photo, his shoulders aren't "square" to the viewer. His torso seems to be angled away from us, with his left (our right) shoulder farther away than the other. This results in us seeing more of his right shoulder, and less of his left. In your drawing, he seems more parallel to us, and I see equal amounts of his shoulders. Do you agree? Hope this helps! Take care.

Julie Gerleman · 08-23-2002, 10:52 AM

Thank you, Meredith and Cynthia.

I was able to round his nostril but unfortunately the portrait has been delivered to Stephan, and is on its way to Munich as we speak, so I was unable to implement your excellent observations, Meredith. Darn it all!

Anyway, it's a learning process all the time, isn't it? I realize after reading your posts, Meredith, that I didn't 'dart' my eyes back and forth between photo and painting and I think that would have helped a lot! Next time!

Thank you both again for your feedback.