Self-portrait for Jeff Fuchs

[Minh Thong]

Since Jeff has graciously volunteered to be my 'peer mentor' I wanted to post the first try of an 18 x 24 self-portrait for feedback specifically on the black robes.

The robe is a dark black cotton cloth and the small 'rakusu' robe in front is a somewhat lighter/faded black garment sewn in a traditional patchwork fashion. The challenge is to adequately describe both and especially show as much of the patchwork in the rakusu as is appropriate given the lighting. The lighting, by the way, will be almost as dark as a traditional chiaroscuro, with the warmish light source coming from the upper left-hand side of the canvas.

The portait is being done completely from life (no photos used) under lighting which duplicates that in the temple, and the background is being done from sketches completed on location. The picture below is the result of a first layer which I wanted to use to just lay in a general value map of the clothing to see how is looks and whether or not I should take liberty with the light or forms to better describe the garments.

I apologize for the horrible quality of the camera and will try to borrow a better one for the next phase.

Thanks all!

Minh "No Longer Teacherless" Thong
(Student of Jeff Fuchs)

[Jeff Fuchs]

We're getting a little ahead of ourselves. The living room trim isn't half finished yet.

Is the top of the face blank? Or is that from the camera's flash? From what I can see of the face, the expression seems kind of stern. I'm not up to speed on Buddhist beliefs, but I'd expect a religiously-oriented portrait to reflect an inner peace. It's still early in this portrait, so maybe I'm judging the face too quickly.

Also, double check the line of the shoulders. I don't feel bone and muscle under them. Same for the front of the robe. Look for the contours that indicate that the fabric lays on top of a human form.

Over all, a good start.

If this critique doesn't help, I'll give you a full refund.

[Minh Thong]

I'd expect a religiously-oriented portrait to reflect an inner peace

Oh ... if you only knew.

The face is just a cross-contour drawing at this point - no paint yet, and no hair yet either. When I start on the head forms there'll be lots to critique there however.

About the shoulders, I have been struggling with the need to describe what's actually happening versus constructing based on the underlying structure. I'll take another look at that tonight. What do you think would better serve the figure in this area? Specifically, are they not sloping as expected?

About the Rakusu, it is ironed rather flat and is pretty stiff and just drapes over the front. Would showing it more 'wrapped around' the figure describe it better?

Thanks for your input, Jeff. I value your opinion and I hope we can encourage other students to pitch in. I think peer review holds much promise for those of us who are students struggling without a teacher.

Thanks again!

Minh

[Jeff Fuchs]

For the shoulders, draw a mental picture of what they look like under the clothes. Better yet, take off your shirt and do a study. I'm seeing a very large radius for the outside curve. It's hard to picture shoulders being that rounded.

I highly recommend Tony Ryder's book. His system is very methodical. He eliminates all rounded lines from the initial stages of the drawing. Using straight lines, he sculpts away at the figure until an accurate drawing emerges. It's not magic. You still have to use your powers of observation. But it's easier to position simple shapes, then refine them into a more complex ones.

Go to www.tonyryder.com to see his drawing demonstrations.

[Minh Thong]

I thought I'd include a few pictures of the progress on this self-portrait (my first). The painting has gone horribly wrong but I did learn alot about how planes and relationships are used to get a likeness and about mixing skintones of the correct hue and value.

Minh

[Minh Thong]

In this next picture, I had worked a little more on the background - which will be darkened in value when completed - and I had worked on correcting the values in the robes and in some of the facial features.

[Minh Thong]

And here the whole thing just fell apart. When going back thru the face to render the correct hue and value of the skintone I just made a horrible mess.

At this point I think I might just gesso it and start another one.

Thanks for the help (you know who you are).

Minh

[Jeff Fuchs]

If you've read Karin's post on what it takes to be a professional portrait artist, you know that you are now several hours closer than you were before. She said that you need to put in a thousand hours. If you keep setting your easel aside for years on end (as I do), you may have to double that.

I applaud your resolve. I also want to repeat my previous comment about painting. I strongly believe that all would-be artists should avoid color in general, and make a year-long commitment (an arbitrary time frame, I admit) to drawing. Master the basics, then move into color. I'm proud to say that I'm taking my own advice (which I rarely do), and I am drawing every chance I get. I think I'll ask for an easel for Christmas, and resolve not to paint at all until after that date.

[Minh Thong]

Good advice. Drawing is what I've been concentrating on since December when my (drawing) teacher magically appeared. That's why it's taken three weeks to make this mess, most nights are spent on the drawing assignments. The study of line, planes, angles, and relationships are what made the original likeness as good as it was. And for me, it was pretty decent.

Oh well, back to the drawing board.

Get it? Drawing board ?

Sorry bout that.

Minh

[Jeff Fuchs]

Speaking of drawing board, I recently made a couple of them. I don't draw at a table, or easel, so I had to choose from the over-sized Masonite drawing board from college, or just use the sketch pad itself, which wasn't rigid enough.

I went out to my shop and cut a piece of scrap Masonite into a board that was two inches larger in length and width than the paper I use. This has been a great improvement in my setup. It's easy to handle, and I can make as many as I want, so I don't have to remove an unfinished drawing to start a new one. The only problem has come from the tape that I use to attach the paper. It pulls up Masonite fibers, which will eventually shorten the life of the boards. I'll probably have to put a coat of paint on them, since varnish hasn't helped.

Try it. It really helps keep your paper in new condition while drawing.