2 little girls

Nathan Cremer · 01-16-2003, 11:50 AM

This is a portrait I did from photograph for my sister. It was done on a sanded paper (not sure of the brand). The size is approx. 14" x 20". I will post close-ups and the reference photo as well.

Nathan Cremer · 01-16-2003, 11:52 AM

My little girl.

Nathan Cremer · 01-16-2003, 11:53 AM

My sister's little girl.

Nathan Cremer · 01-16-2003, 11:55 AM

Any comments are welcome and appreciated.

Leslie Ficcaglia · 01-16-2003, 12:36 PM

That's a beautiful portrait; I really admire your mastery of pastels and the light-drenched atmosphere you've conveyed. Your handling of skin tones and contours is also excellent.

Your niece's hair looks a little fuller on our right in the reference photo; it comes out more before it curves back in toward her cheek. My only other comment is that your daughter is probably not going to be happy that you memorialized her cousin in such a pretty, flattering pose and captured her looking funny. If this were a commission I would try to have the two girls be more similar in their presentation, but I suspect you're going to paint your daughter a lot more times! Very nice work.

What kind of pastels are you using?

Mike McCarty · 01-16-2003, 12:44 PM

I like this very much. Very accomplished painting in my opinion.

I have two very nit picking comments both for the girl on our right. As her bangs come down her forehead to their end on our left (and to a lesser extent on our right) there seems to be a dark line running along the bottom edge of her hair. This might look a little better if you took your flesh color and ran it up through that dark line to show some seperation.

Secondly, on the top middle of her lip on the right, this seems to be drawn a little too sharply. I would soften it a bit.

Great painting. Do I recognize the girl on our left from a previous post?

Jean Kelly · 01-16-2003, 01:10 PM

Nathan, as Mike noted, you might want to soften the upper lip of your niece. Other than that, a delightful painting.

I believe that you've taken your handling of the materials to the point that it's time to start drawing from life. I'd like to see your ability to capture the joy of childhood done from your own spontaneous drawings. Start simple.

Jean

Nathan Cremer · 01-16-2003, 01:50 PM

Thank you for the quick responses. I do notice, now, what you guys have pointed out. And, I agree.

I have a small set of Rembrandts that I use along with NuPastels. I have a set of Sennelier that I rarely use. Too soft for my liking.

The little girl on the left is from a previous posting. She's in a lot of my work. Inspiration is hard for me to find. But, I always find it in her.

As for drawing from life, I would love to. I know I could never draw my daughter because she doesn't stand still long enough for a photo, let alone a painting. But, I have recently started a figure drawing class that meets once a week. That'll be alot of great practice for me. Also, I've been thinking of doing a portrait of my wife from life. So, maybe you'll see that in the future.

Lon Haverly · 01-21-2003, 11:48 PM

Very fine work! Beautiful colors and drawing.

I only have one small criticism, and it is of the detailing of the teeth of the smile on the left. You could add a little clarity there to the teeth. They look blurred, not a likelihood considering the detail obvious in the hair. Otherwise, I like it!