Sandy--need some input

Michele Rushworth · 01-17-2006, 11:31 PM

Here are some answers to your questions:

1. Is the portrait below a good template for how much of the shoulders to show? I would like the focus to be on the face but I don't want to put too little in the painting. Would you do a vignette or run off the board with the body?

Personally I rarely find a portrait in which I think the vignette look is done well. I prefer to continue the image to the edges of the canvas. Just my opinion.

2. Do I make each portrait unique in background and tailored in coloring to the individual to make them a little more exciting to view?

Either way would be fine.

3. Would it be better to make each background neutral rather than something like I have in the one posted here?

Whatever you think would look best.

4. How do I take careful advantage of the opportunity with regard to PR? Business cards on the front of the displayed portraits? The back? I will receive mention in the program which will be nice.

Okay, here's where I've got some experience. Write a press release. You can easily read about how to do that on the web. Search online and find about 20 or so people to email it to. Find exact names and titles of the right people. For example, the Editor of the newspaper Lifestyles section, the columnist who is always featured in the Women's section, etc. The Editor of the weekly suburban newspaper that covers your neighborhood, etc. The producer of the local TV evening newsmagazine/features show. Email the press release a week before the event. Take pictures of yourself working on one of the portraits to send along with the press release. After the event send out a revised press release (with quotes from the recipients, yourself and the sponsors, for example) to the same 20 people.

I don't know if they'd let you put business cards on the portraits themselves. Not sure that's a good idea anyway. Be sure your business card is on the back though, so each recipient can contact you for future work, if they want to.

5. Should I show the recipients the portraits before they are publicly displayed to make sure they like them?

Absolutely.

Good luck!

Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco · 01-18-2006, 05:23 AM

Lisa, you had a lot of very good and well expressed advice here. My little opinion is that those loose lines David has described so well, if you decide to put them in, should really be lines, I mean straight lines, that give solidity to the figure like a pedestal.
This is so difficult that I think you will in the end decide to continue the drawing to the edge. As it is there is some difference between the confident way with which you have handled the head and the more hesitant work on the shoulders.
Life/photo work: you are in good company! It is very hard for me to admit that my life work is not technically as good some times as the one from photos, but much, much more interesting!
Best of luck
PS I would also lightly soften her irises, they are very lively but I find them a bit sharp.

Alexandra Tyng · 01-18-2006, 10:24 AM

Hi Lisa, it's nice to see you posting again!

I'm not sure you want any more advice, since everything has been covered so well, but here's my two cents.

First, about the "rendering" problem: I had (have?) a rendering problem, too. This sounds very familiar to me. Not that our styles are the same, it's just that I started out drawing every little detail. I was fascinated by detail. My high school art teacher and the artists I knew would tell me, "you don't have to draw every wrinkle," and I would think, "Why not?" I couldn't see at that age why it might be better not to. I didn't start to turn this problem into an asset until I realized what it really meant to choose and to make decisions artistically. Then I saw what a long road lay ahead of me and how much I had to learn.

Sorry, I didn't mean to tell you my life story. I know you are already a long way up that road already, or you wouldn't be turning out such beautiful work (and, yes, Lisa, there have been some transcendent pieces, I'm sure you know which ones they are, and you will do more!) I'm hearing that you are aware of an issue that is, in itself, both a great talent and a handicap.

If we look at the work of the artists we admire, there are certain ones whose work makes us think "I wish I could paint like that!" Not like wishing we were someone else, but wishing we were more developed versions of ourselves. In other words, our goals have to be consistent with our own styles and our own directions somehow.

So it's all about loving and appreciating your ability to render, and at the same time asking yourself what you want to do with it, what decisions are you going to make for your long-term artistic growth, given this ability. Whenever I reach a point of frustration I look at paintings I admire as something to work towards, and I try to paint from life or switch from portraits to landscapes, or draw. It helps not to perseverate, because then you just get into a rut.

Now, back to the portrait. I know you've shaved a few years off her appearance already, but my eye is drawn to the wrinkles above her upper lip and on our right side of her mouth (smile lines). The important thing to do is think how you can simplify these areas without taking away her essential characteristics. She will thank you for it, believe me. You may need two major smile lines rather than three or four. You may be able to eliminate the puckers above her lip completely.

The background: I think Michele's advice is great. I'm just reacting to this particular portrait. To me the color of the background competes with her skin, so I would vote for a darker, more neutral tone.

The fading at the bottom: I agree that if you can't loosen up towards the bottom, then render. The misty fade tells me you are not in control unless you are tight. The fully finished edge will tell me you have made a decision that you are in control of.

Gosh, that was much more than two cents!

Alex

Jean Kelly · 01-18-2006, 02:07 PM

Hi Lisa,

Just wanted to say congrats on this commission, I'm sure you will be able to carry it off in a beautiful way.

I'm also reading this thread with much interest, there is a lot of wisdom here.

Jean

Lisa Ober · 01-19-2006, 01:06 PM

Hi David,

You really have me thinking and I need to figure this out before we marry or my baggage will poison the relationship.

Basically, I agree with you. It isn't really a choice of "freer" vs. "overworked" but rather something that separates the true artist from others. I truly believe I lack this. I'm not sure what it is. It's somewhere in the mood, the composition, the thought process, the intent. Yes, that's it. You are well aware of my rushing through work and how quickly I paitn and draw. That's good for what I am doing now but for real expressive art I think I must either have a missing link in my creativity or I am too lazy to plan. My excitement is in becoming as technically proficient as possible. I am not nearly as excited and my mind is vacant in fact when it comes to conjuring up meaningful work. Well, there you go. I just labeled myself a renderer again. Living up to the power of suggestion. And that's the difference for me. I can draw and paint what i see to some degree of accuracy but tell me to innovate and you will be waiting forever.

It's not that I don't care so don't misunderstand. I just don't know if I have it in me. Okay wait, it's in me but I can't get it from my head to the canvas. That's more accurate. I think this is going to be a lifelong struggle. With any luck I will live long enough to create one really terrific piece of ART.

I can't thank you enough for the very encouraging things you have said and the compliments you have given. I am so glad there is someone who "gets" the struggle. It really does mean a lot.

When time permits I am going to go crazy with the tools. You all might be begging for me to go back to rendering but I'm still going to push.

In the meantime, I think I will finish these 10 pastels to the edge as most of you have suggested.

Thanks, David. You're fun and you will make a great spouse.

Lisa Ober · 01-19-2006, 01:10 PM

Michelle,

Really nice of you to take the time to give me your suggestions.

First, I will continue to the edges as you suggest for the final 10 pieces.
Secondly, I am leaning toward making each unique in color scheme. We'll see what all these womend look like. I will take your advice and show the recipients before framing.

Finally, I LOVE your PR ideas. I have a little bit of trouble tooting my own horn but I think I really need to do it to make this pay off to its potential. I love the idea of some in progress shots. That's great!

You're awesome!

Lisa Ober · 01-19-2006, 01:13 PM

Ilaria, thank you for your input. I think you are right that I will end up painting to the edge. It seems backwards to do anything else for me at this point.

Oh yes, you are right. My life work is not as good but it is more interesting. It is hard to get bogged down in the details when you only have a short period of time to paint a sitter.

As far as the irises go, this client actually wanted me to sharpen them more! She feels her eyes are her best asset and I have to say that they are indeed sharp and beautiful, crystal clear and unique.

Thank you again.