Need your opinion about underpainting

[Rui Manuel]

Hi all:

Very recently, I did my first underpainting and, honestly, as my first, I am happy with it.
I am planning to follow to the definitive painting respecting these values.

But before that, it is important me to ask you this: can you please tell me three things that you think are really nice on the underpainting and three others which you consider as big errors?

Thanks for looking.

Rui

[Rui Manuel]

And here is the photo reference:

[Michael Georges]

Rui:

First, Welcome to SOG, hope you enjoy your time here.

I was wondering what your specific goals were out of this underpainting. Are you interested in trying a value-based underpainting approach like a grisaille or verdaccio? Or, are you more interested in underpainting as something to lay in the basics of the form so you can get right into color?

If you are looking at a value-based underpainting approach like a verdaccio or grisaille method, then your values are far too light in the face and you should be shooting to come closer to this:

[Rui Manuel]

Michael, thanks for your answer!

My goal is to build an underpainting in order to apply color later. But I think this is going into a very flat and boring way...

Anyway, and meanwhile, I found some interesting and useful threads about underpainting in the Subject-specific Demonstrations, such as "Determining Values" and an "Underpainting example" presented by Karin Wells.

Thanks again,
Rui

[Karin Wells]

For an underpainting to be successful, you must clearly delineate light from shadow.

Unfortunately your resource photo does not show this at all. You must get another picture of your subject photographed with a single source of light. How light and shadow meet will determine form. If you cannot see form, you cannot successfully paint it.

I suggest that you review the photo resource section of this Forum for some more information about photography.

Considering the poor material you had to work with, I think that you did a rather nice job...don't give up!

[Rui Manuel]

Hi Karin. Thanks for your time and important words. I have been learning alot in this website!

I also want to say that I visited your site and I have no words for what I saw (

[Karin Wells]

Rui, it is obvious that you have much talent and you did a nice job of adding color to this. I think that when you have a good resource photograph to work from you will pleasantly surprise yourself with the painted result. Go for it!