Egon

Allan Rahbek · 01-23-2005, 05:06 PM

Hi, this is my good friend Egon. Oil on linen 14" X 12"

I started yesterday and painted it all wet into wet. Consider it done, but would like comments anyway. Thanks

Allan

Sharon Knettell · 01-23-2005, 05:25 PM

Allan,

Your abilities are increasing at a such a rapid pace. I think the copy of the Degas was one of those exercises that really improved the fluidity of your brush work. What a beautiful portrait!

One question. There is quite a difference in the color of the photo and the painting. Was it all done from the photo or did you persuade this gentleman to sit.

By the bye are all you Danes so CUTE!

Mike McCarty · 01-23-2005, 05:27 PM

Allan,

What a great image.

I would try and push the shelf to our right back a bit. It appears to be too bright, I think if you greyed it down a bit it would receed and give a little more kick to the subject.

Or maybe give a little more highlight to the beard.

Sharon Knettell · 01-23-2005, 05:32 PM

Allan,

I think Mikes' suggestions are good ones. I love the blue mantle but it does pop a bit too much.

Allan Rahbek · 01-23-2005, 05:53 PM

Mike and Sharon, thank you for the comments.

You are right, it does look weird. The colors are off, because I took the photo under a halogen light and used the polarizing filter to (almost) avoid glare. It seems that the filter takes away a part of the light.

I better take another photo of the painting tomorrow and replace this.
The painting is much less brownish. But we will see then.

Sharon,
Egon is the nicest human being that I know and I plan to make a bigger portrait of him.

Allan

Allan Rahbek · 01-23-2005, 06:57 PM

I have adjusted the color balance in photo shop so now it looks more like it should.
But I will take another shut outside tomorrow to see the difference.

Allan

Garth Herrick · 01-23-2005, 07:10 PM

Very nice Allan. I love your painterly technique. Your painting has a nice uniform glow and composition. You certainly were able to read into and restore the missing information in the photo. Did you modify the blue shelf from it's actual color?

Garth

October Reader · 01-23-2005, 07:39 PM

Allen, I'm very impressed and I think you captured the kindness that seems to comethrough from Egon's expression.

Allan Rahbek · 01-23-2005, 07:55 PM

Garth, thanks.

The photo was taken on a rainy day with low light, but the Nikon d70 did the job and I liked the photo for a sketch. The light was very low so the highlights were overexposed though.
So I made it all up from imagination.

I just recently got the photo shop and am still learning, but I managed to manipulate the middel tones from Blue toward Yellow. And I also lightened the image.

The painting is actually a bit more yellow than the reference, but not much.

Allan

Jean Kelly · 01-23-2005, 07:58 PM

Allan, this is wonderful! I agree with all of the above, but if you did nothing more I would still love it.

Jean