Copy of Child At Bath

Renee Price · 02-09-2003, 11:41 AM

I recently completed a head and shoulders copy of "Child at Bath" by William Bouguereau. It was a wonderful learning experience, but I'm sure nothing like the education I will receive from Marvin Mattelson's workshop in June!

Renee Price

Renee Price · 02-09-2003, 12:17 PM

Here's the detail. I tried to lighten the image, but it's still a little dark and the color in the actual painting is much cleaner than the image. Sorry, my scanner has been lousy since my computer crashed because of a virus.

This is 18 X 24 oil on canvas. The medium is Neo Megilp and I did not do an underpaint.

Renee

Jeff Fuchs · 03-14-2003, 11:46 PM

Here's a copy of the original. Looks like your child is a bit more gaunt than Bouguereau's.

The original has a roundness and pinkness to it. I'd consider your attempt a warm-up. Start over and measure measure measure.

I've said this before. Spend a year drawing. Put color aside and concentrate on form only. That's what I'm doing, and I'll be lucky if a year will be enough.

Sorry you're not getting pro critiques, but I feel my comments are valid just the same. I've refrained from critiques until now, because most of us want to hear from the pros. I'd rather an honest critique from a peer than none at all.

Sharon Knettell · 03-15-2003, 09:19 AM

Good call Jeff.

Enzie Shahmiri · 03-15-2003, 11:51 AM

Renee,

When I look at this work, I can definitely see a likeness and besides the coloration issues as Jeff and you have already pointed out, I see minor corrections here and there that could improve the work. I would recheck the eye area, the chin, the ear, the arch of the shoulders as some of those areas are in need of more attention. Take a break from looking at it and after a couple of days, either look at it again through a mirror or turn it upside down. Pick one reference point that is correct and cross-reference everything else accordingly. Isolate the shapes and their relationship to each other and you will notice yourself which areas could be corrected further.

There is always good, better and excellent and in the rare case godly. If you know what I mean!

Peggy Baumgaertner, among many other talented artists, has some videos where she works alla prima and shows how she constructs the head. I have learned through watching Peggy, that how you create the structure beneath makes all the difference. Being able to copy well is definitely a plus, but the work becomes like a nicely colored piece of cloth, it lacks solidity. When you force yourself to observe the anatomic structure first and only then proceed to place the shapes that make up the features, by cross referencing each shapes relationship to each other something amazing happens.

As you drape your beautifully detailed copying skills over that skull, voila the piece becomes strong and has the solidity it lacked before.

Thank god for the

Renee Price · 03-15-2003, 12:55 PM

Thanks! Thanks! Thanks!

It helps to have other eyes on a painting after mine get tired. I will take your suggestions to heart. And Jeff, I agree that we practicing wannabe pros are able to critique, too. You all proved that with your comprehensive and helpful observations.

Thank you again,
Renee

William Whitaker · 03-15-2003, 06:24 PM

Renee,

Jeff is absolutely right about drawing. However, nothing that you do is bad for you and you certainly want to have fun too. But if you want to get to the top in this field, draw until you are as good and accurate as a copy machine. It is extremely hard to draw as well as you will need to, but it is worth the effort and you can do it.

The best skull cast is made by http://www.sculptshop.com/

It is cast from an actual skull and is actually more useful as a drawing tool than a real skull.

William Whitaker · 03-15-2003, 06:31 PM

Jeffrey Mims runs a fine atelier in North Carolina. His website is http://www.gandynet.com/art/Masters/...nstructors.htm

On his CURRICULUM page, he shows a wonderful cast drawing done by a nineteen-year-old female student. Quality like this is your goal.

Expect to spend more than a few minutes doing a such a drawing...

Renee Price · 03-16-2003, 01:48 PM

Bill,

Thank you so much for recommending Mims to me. His work is very beautiful. Obviously I realize that I need more direction and am very happy to be enrolled in a workshop with an artist whose work I find most admirable.

Thank you all very much,

Renee

Elizabeth Schott · 02-27-2004, 02:35 AM

Wow Renee,

Great minds!

I have been busy trying to make something respectable of this very image myself.

I have been using a whitaker/Mattelson palette, trying to incorporate the colors fo Bills a bit more with Marvin's values. Now it has been mentioned to me that the key to this translucent skin could be some masterful scumling, so I am giving it some drying time, and praying I will not mess it up.

Did you scumble over the color at all? I am also working on her lovely feet and hands. Of course my reference is too red so I am trying to adjust fo this, I'll try and post them in the morning.

Beth

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renee Price

Bill,

Thank you so much for recommending Mims to me. His work is very beautiful. Obviously I realize that I need more direction and am very happy to be enrolled in a workshop with an artist whose work I find most admirable.

Thank you all very much,

Renee