Jessica

Julianne Lowman · 02-14-2004, 04:06 PM

This is to be a 20x24 oil, which I think is actually too big, but that's the overall size the client wants. Doing it at this size will make her life size or a hair bigger (which I know is not good).

I have tweaked a few things they didn't like so this is the reason for some slightly smudged areas.

Your thoughts?

Mike McCarty · 02-14-2004, 09:28 PM

Julianne,

Beautiful subject. By my calculations her head will be at least nine inches. Although this would not be completely out of the question for such a beautiful subject, depending on your objective, it could be bumping on a limit. As I formulate the concensus, a slightly less than life size is optimum which works out somewhere around seven to seven and a half inches.

You're post has a ratio, height to width, of .66% while the 24x20 canvas works out to an .83% ratio. So you will be adding another twenty five percent to the width of what we see in your post. From the looks of things this may not be a bad thing.

I just bring these things up for reference and to point out that, per usual, your placement of the subject on the canvas will be important.

This looks like a studio made photo with multiple lights coming from our top left and a substantial fill from our lower right. You may have to work a little harder to create form because her facial and chest features have become quite subtle.

Cheers

Michele Rushworth · 02-14-2004, 10:06 PM

Julianne, I wonder if there might be some copyright problems with using this photo. If it was taken by a professional photographer you need their permission to paint from it.

Julianne Lowman · 02-15-2004, 11:04 AM

This photo shoot was set up by a professional for the young woman who won a local scholarship pageant. It was understood that I would also be shooting at the same time for an oil portrait I donated as a prize. We both shot photos and compared them. Naturally, his were better (I blame this on his $3,000 digital SLR), so he agreed to let me use this one. Unfortunately, the young lady had recently had her wisdom teeth pulled and had a great deal of swelling in the lower jaw area and her hair was not to her liking, so I changed that in Photoshop.

Michelle, I very much appreciate your comments about copyright. I used to publish a national trade newspaper for the pageant, modeling and talent industry and copyright issues were a real "cause" for me. I was constantly writing articles about the subject, thus I'm a REAL stickler about having a release in writing from the Pro's before I even touch a canvas or paper.

I have begun the painting and it is very odd to do one this size. The distance from her lower lip shadow to the top of her eyebrow is 4 inches alone! Granted, she is a gorgeous subject, but the shadows, or lack thereof are proving to be a challenge.

Michele Rushworth · 02-15-2004, 11:08 AM

Sounds like you've got the copyright thing well covered. I'm sure this will be a beautiful portrait. Love that necklace!

Chris Saper · 02-15-2004, 02:32 PM

Dear Julianne,

She is indeed a beautiful subject. I am a day late on this advice, but you are paintng her because you are the portrait expert, and you should resist compromising the painting's potential before you even start by letting her know what is right (size-wise, and in every other way).

I fear you will struggle through the entire portrait with the large head size if you are not comfortable painting at this scale.

Julianne Lowman · 02-15-2004, 03:23 PM

Chris, I am in total agreement. I have decided, though I have already completed the underpainting, to begin again at a 16 x 20 size and allow the client to add the additional size via the framing. It was almost scary to do one that size. The features were, although perfectly proportioned, seemed unrealistic unless it was going to hang on a wall FAR from the viewer.

I believe I will call the 20 x 24 underpainting a "study", thus, I won't feel like I've wasted my time or canvas.

Michele Rushworth · 02-15-2004, 03:29 PM

I just did the same thing on a portrait of my daughter which I've finally completed. I started it a year ago on a canvas that was too big which made the head size uncomfortably big also.

I got perhaps a third of the way into it and couldn't decide what to do. I mulled it over for several months and finally decided to scrap it completely. I began again on a new (and better quality) canvas, at about 3/4 life size. I'm so happy I did. The unfinished original canvas will stay in my closet, as a "study", just like yours, Julianne.