Nick

Jonathan Benash · 10-15-2003, 06:08 PM

Hi all,

Thought I would post a portrait that was done from an old black and white yearbook photo of my wife's grandfather. The photo is 8" x 10" and the pastel was done on a sheet of 20" x 16" Canson Mi-Tientes, steel grey paper. I used mostly NuPastels and Rembrandt pastels.

Because the photo was black and white, I had the most trouble trying to achieve proper skin tones and colors. The photo was also washed out somewhat from photo flash so there were not very good shadow areas. I'm not sure how good the colors or quality of this work will post here, but I will give it a try anyway.

I'd love to hear any feedback, or comments that anyone has to offer.

Mary Pedini · 10-16-2003, 12:59 PM

Hi Nick,

I do like the skin tones you chose for this. You have an interesting variety of colors that work well. Could you post your reference photo? It may make it easier for people to give you more feedback.

Mary

Linda Brandon · 10-16-2003, 06:53 PM

Dear Jonathan,

Welcome to the Forum! I think you've done a fine job with the (dreaded) yearbook photo. These are tough to do and I congratulate you. He's an elegant, good-looking man.

Here's what I'd do if this were mine:

I'd spread some warm reds around, namely in the corners of the eyes, warm up the shadows in the ears (instead of cool greys), warm the shadow area around the nose (nostril openings should be warm and not a terribly dark value) and warm up his lips without darkening them. The lavender color that shows up on my monitor has a lipstick effect.

I don't think you need to tinker much with this. You can ask your wife if the likeness is accurate. Most "laymen" are pretty good at spotting drawing errors, it's just that it's hard for a non-artist to articulate the problems when there are other issues (color, value, edges, composition, etc.) coming into play.

Lon Haverly · 10-17-2003, 12:54 AM

Hey, you have done this before, considering you did it from a B/W photo. Sometimes it is easier to work from an old B/W than an old color which has yellowed or faded. You can chose your favorite palette and just go with it. I once painted my grandfather as a young man, and it was a very enjoyable work of love. This looks like another such labor of love. I know your wife and family will enjoy it!

Lynn T. McCallum · 10-17-2003, 01:15 AM

Lon is right Jonathan.

You did a great job and the colors seem so right for that era. That always help.

Sometimes looking at the skin tones of the relatives can help you with the flesh tones. If your wife has a brother that favors her father in color, an uncle or even herself, use those colors to get more of a likness in the flesh tones. This should help.

It's nice to be able to take a favorite photo and make a special piece of art work for folks.

You did a lovely job.

Jonathan Benash · 10-17-2003, 10:29 AM

Just wanted to say thank you to all of you who took the time for some much needed feedback.

Linda- I couldn't agree more as far as the warming up of those areas such as the ears and nostrils, I don't know how I missed that! The lips were the other thing that kind of bothered me. I think the computer may have shifted the color a little, but your are right, they do have a bit of a lipstick effect. Thanks for the insight, it will be very useful!

Lon & Lynn- Yes I have done a couple of other pastels working from a b&w reference, and I couldn't agree with you both more, it is a joy to try, because you get a chance to play with color. This was a fun portrait to do because of the sentimental value it holds for my wife and her family. Thanks for the feedback.

Thanks again everyone for the kind words of encouragement and the very useful feedback. I truly appreciate it! I will try to post the original photo that I worked from like Mary suggested a.s.a.p.

Lynn T. McCallum · 10-17-2003, 11:22 AM

I forgot to add, it is easier to see the values in a black and white photo. I have started taking color photos and producing black and white photos from them to get my underpainting going. To me it's kind of cheating but it helps me with getting my structure/values together before laying in the color. Very impoprtant! Get that drawing and underpainting right before you put in the rest.

Hope that helps.

Michele Rushworth · 10-17-2003, 02:43 PM

Nice job adding color with only a black and white original.

I do see what looks like a drawing error, to me, though. It seems as if the eye on our left is too high.

The vertical axis of the rest of the face is tilted left slightly, but the horizontal axis across the eyes has been painted to be almost perfectly horizontal. Moving the left eye down (and being sure the inner corners of the eyes still point toward each other) would fix that.

I'm working on a portrait of a young boy who is posed similarly. The axis of the face is almost vertical, but not quite, and I have to constantly fight the common tendency to make everything perfectly vertical and horizontal, especially the eyes.