Alan

Chris Saper · 03-20-2005, 11:16 PM

Matthew,

There is absolutely nothing that matters as much as progress - every hour at the easel is well spent.

I have found that the funny thing about pastels, is that even if you have 1000 sticks, you'll never really have the right one, so you are forced to get at the color you want in an indirect way.

As to the sharp point issue, I htink it is easier to get at fine detail by carving away at an already placed stroke.

Matthew Severson · 03-22-2005, 08:33 PM

Quote:

What caught my attention right away is that the eyes appear to be too high in the head. Typically eyes are half way between the chin and top of the head. I suggest you measure your source photo (or model) and check this.

Debra,
I completely agree that it looks wrong, but I checked up on it and the eye position is correct. I didn't realize until you mentioned it how high his eyes really are! Apparently the half way rule doesn

Chris Saper · 03-22-2005, 08:46 PM

Matthew, the eyes are too high.

In most normal adult face to face eye-level to eye level, the tear duct is in the middle of the head, measured from top of the head to the chin. Your view point is below eye level, but I do not think this can be the case. I'd be happy to try to detail observations, if you would care to post the source photo.

And yes, you are doing great work!

Chris Saper · 03-22-2005, 08:48 PM

ps. It may be that your source photo has taken on distortion due to either lens or proximity, in which case the image might agree with the source photo, but the source photo won't agree with the subject..

Matthew Severson · 03-22-2005, 09:59 PM

Here is the photo.
YIKES! The flaws in my portrait are disturbing when I compare them side by side.

Matthew

Matthew Severson · 03-24-2005, 09:42 AM

I spent another hour in front of this piece and worked out some of the major flaws. Although I still don't know what to think of the eye position.
I still need to fix his cheekbones and eyes

Chris Saper · 03-29-2005, 10:34 PM

I love painting ears. I really mean I LOVE painting ears! Ears are every bit as much a feature as eyes, mouth or nose.

I think that ears are underrated as to their importance in likeness.

This spring I am taking a forensic workshop with Karen Taylor at the Scottsdale Artists' School. There are forensic expertrs who believe that ear shapes are every bit as accurate as fingerprints in identifying an individual. We should all pay attention to ears.