THE TRAP...
Be forewarned, I'm about to express an opinion.
I believe that the out-of-doors, for the less than proficient portrait painter, is a trap. The experienced professionals can do wonders with nothing but a suggestion. I'm talking here about the rest of us.
I believe that as the face becomes smaller, as a percentage of the canvas, your chances of success become smaller. The out-of-doors begs for this to happen. One example is the post above of the girl standing in her bathing suit, next to the palm tree, to the left and down from the palm leaves, just left of the pretty rocks in the water on the right, all against the beautiful Caribbean and sky. When confronted with all of this, how can you not arrange it thus? And so the trap is sprung. The face (portrait part) has been reduced to 4% of the total. Unless your canvas is life size this is going to be difficult. This trap can easily be sprung in your own back yard; you don't have to buy a plane ticket.
Personally I have tried to concentrate on keeping the face big as percentages go. My thinking is that what I need to be about is learning flesh tones and likeness, not about palm leaves and ocean. That doesn't mean that you can't get pretty artsy by sticking to this plan. The first post above could easily be something that I would consider. You just need to be aware and not let yourself be so inclusive (trapped).
I would love to hear other opinions on this argument. Mine is a reasoning born out of one citizen's simple experiences, da.
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Mike McCarty
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