Self portrait

Carol Norton · 03-01-2009, 11:19 AM

Valentino, this is a very powerful self-portrait. I am really drawn to it as strong contrast has always attracted me. Placing nearly the whole face in shadow was masterfully done and has inspired me to try some things that I had wanted to do that are primarily in shadow. Thanks so much for posting this.

Josef Sy · 03-02-2009, 09:03 AM

This is beautiful, Valentino. Congratulations.

Valentino Radman · 03-02-2009, 09:59 AM

Thank you. The challenge here was to keep the value range within the shadow very narrow, yet at the same time broad enough, in order to describe the form(s) and avoid dull, flat look. The same goes for the flesh hues, as well.
As for the chroma, all paints I used were heavily desaturated.
(It is difficult to see the nuances I am speaking about here, since they are lost in reproduction).

Valentino Radman · 03-02-2009, 10:07 AM

Btw, this close up is larger than that area in the original painting.

(Besides, it seems that SOG software stretches pictures. The image attached in my post is larger than 398x543 pixel jpg I uploaded.)

Carol Norton · 03-02-2009, 10:39 AM

Valentino, would you share your palette with us? I can see what I THINK you used to achieve those tones, but I'd really like to know for sure. Colors also change so radically on a computer screen that it would be very interesting to read how you achieved the shadow colors.

Christy Talbott · 03-02-2009, 01:06 PM

Beautifully done Valentino!

Valentino Radman · 03-03-2009, 06:55 AM

Here's my palette:
flake, ochre, raw sienna, cyprus orange, red ochre, vermillion, alizarin, raw umber, warm sepia extra, payne's gray, davy's gray, transparent pink gray, prussian blue

Garth Herrick · 03-03-2009, 11:02 AM

Well done Valentino! I like the radiant warmth in the darks. Your palette is interesting, and you are introducing me to a couple of new color names. Is the Cyprus Orange a type of half-burnt ochre? I see Williamsburg makes it. Also I am unfamiliar with Transparent Pink Gray. It sounds interesting.

Garth

Tom Edgerton · 03-11-2009, 02:32 PM

Valentino--

Very powerful! The close-value modeling within the shadow is just enough...very hard to paint detail in the shadows and still maintain the integrity of the overall shadow shape without over modeling. It's very sophisticated and restrained.