Needs more Ummph? - Page 2

Terri Ficenec · 10-26-2003, 04:13 PM

and close-ups. . .

I've still got some work to do one her upper lip (edges and deepening shadow immediately under her nose), and her hand (pushing down the light values/contrast a bit so that the hand recedes), but otherwise think this is getting pretty close. I'm meeting with the client Monday to make sure she's happy with the likeness before finishing touches and varnishing. (Sorry, I can't post the reference photos at client's request - but I think the likenesses are good).

Several families in the same neighborhood as this client, have expressed interest and I suspect the success of this painting will impact whether or not any of this interest is converted to commissions.

So -- any critiques, comments would be more than welcome. Thanks!

Terri Ficenec · 10-26-2003, 04:14 PM

and him...

Steven Sweeney · 10-28-2003, 11:47 AM

Hi, Terri,

Well of course without the reference I could never resolve this for myself, but I've always had the sense that the girl's far cheek (on our left) bulged out just a slight bit excessively. The distance from the tip of the nose to the edge of the face "seems" okay, as does the distance from the corner of the mouth to that edge. When I stroke the Photoshop brush between those points, however, and remove some of the convexity in the line between them, it just looks more natural. Of course, reality trumps assumptions like that, but it might be one last thing to double-check.

Terri Ficenec · 10-28-2003, 08:07 PM

Hi Steven - Thanks!

I'm not posting the reference in deference to the mom's wishes, who felt it was OK to post a portrait of her kids, but didn't want an actual photo on line. The reference photo for this girl was not actually one I would have picked (and should NEVER have shown to the mother!)- but of course, that was the one she HAD to have. The girl is very pretty in real life, not heavy, no double chin, but in the photo, not only were her teeth showing (I tried to downplay them with not too much contrast, but still keeping the overall shape etc.) but she had her chin pulled in giving her the appearance of a double chin.... So, I did alter the chin (removing the extra one) and pull in the contour of that cheek by about 1/8 of an inch between roughly even with the upper lip and where it meets the chin. So, you're right that the cheek was not spot on... but the alteration was somewhat intentional and the mom likes the likeness. So I guess I'm stuck with it for now -- though I certainly didn't intend for it to look unnatural! Hopefully it's not too off that a non-artist would notice?