Berty

Joan Breckwoldt · 07-16-2004, 11:23 PM

Hi Julie,

I like the second photo very much. It's a wonderful pose and I think you have nice light. What a wonderful subject.

On the first one I feel like not enough of her face is exposed. And there is so much neck and chin, that might be too prominent in the painting. I just want to push that hat up a little to uncover more of her face!

One of these would be a head and shoulders and the other would be more of a 3/4 view. Is this something for your portfolio or are you restricted by size? Just wondering.

Hope this helps,

Joan

Joan Breckwoldt · 07-16-2004, 11:25 PM

One more thought, if it were me I would lose the background and make that chair solid. With that dress all that pattern might make the portrait too busy, that is why I would try to simplify some of the other elements. I think that way there would be more focus on her face, but that's only how I personally like to see portraits.

Joan

Julie Deane · 07-17-2004, 06:23 AM

Hi Joan,

Thanks for your comments. I agree about the busy pattern on the chair competing, and I definitely would not include it. I haven't made up my mind what to do yet - I've been itching to take photos of this lady, who I met through a church friend - so the immediate goal has been met, at least.

Julie Deane · 07-17-2004, 06:37 AM

What the heck - here's a few more.

Julie Deane · 07-17-2004, 06:43 AM

One with a brighter dress and background

Joan Breckwoldt · 07-17-2004, 02:43 PM

Julie,

I think the very last one, the close-up with the black hat, is my favorite. Her face has so much character. I like the shape of that hat better, it doesn't hide her face.

If it were my choice, I would either paint her in that striped chair (but without the stripes

, or I would paint a head and shoulders of her from the last photo. I think it depends on whether you want to do a 3/4 or a head and shoulders. I really like her expression on that last one though . . .

Joan

Julie Deane · 07-18-2004, 01:02 PM

She has a lot of character, but just look at how crooked her lips are!

I'll probably take more photos. I need to learn a lot more about lighting anyway.

I really liked the first one best myself. I do see what you mean about the neck though. How do you solve the lighting of a person who is wearing a hat?