The middle child

[Julie Boyles]

Hello,

This is my first oil painting. Well, second if you count the color study I did, but that doesn't count as a full painting. This profile painting was done from both a photograph and from life. I am not finished with his shirt but his face and hair are complete enough for critique. I started with an underpainting for this portrait and found it very helpful.

I am very determined to learn and get better so any critiques and comments are welcome. I am attaching the painting and the photo reference.

Thank you,
Julie
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[Julie Boyles]

Here is the reference photo:
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New Mexico Medical Marijuana Dispensary

[Julie Boyles]

I'm so sorry. I was so nervous about posting this I forgot the important information about this painting.

Middle Child
Oil on Gessoed Panel
20" X 16"

Here's a detail of his features

Thank you,
Julie
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[Allan Rahbek]

Hi Julie,
Welcome to this forum.

I

[Julie Boyles]

Hi Allan,

Thank you for the welcome and your comment. I am very determined to improve so I appreciate you taking the time to look at this.

You are right about this having a Photoshop solution for a background. Since this was to be my first oil painting I didn't take the time to set up my backdrop or a more formal portrait setting. I did however, set up the lighting so I would have light and shadow to practice my skintones and get used to using the brushes. I also needed the practice of mixing colors. I will utilize the Resource Photo Critique section to help me in the future. Thank you for that suggestion.

Do you think this particular painting would benefit from varying the background more? Is my edge handling incorrect for this study?

Thank you so much,
Julie
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R60

[Terri Ficenec]

Originally Posted by Julie Boyles

Is my edge handling incorrect for this study?
Julie

Hi Julie--
What strikes me first when I look at this painting is how sterile it looks... The edges of the features (eyes, mouth...) are all very hard... Take a good look at how the lash line meet the skin in your reference, or the lip line, or the hair line. These transitions need to be softer. I think you've done a nice job with what you've got so far, but it reads as very simplified and the areas of different color read as distinct from each other rather than part of an integrated whole. (They seem to be different than the color in your reference?) You've given him a different hairstyle (longer and straighter?) than what's shown in the reference... so you're left needing to invent what that looks like --not an easy thing to do (unless he's running around live with longer hair and you can get him to sit for you)

On the drawing side, his mouth is turned up at the corner in the painting where it is not in the photo. And the top of his ear may be a little high making his ear seem larger than it is... but that's just eyeballing it, I haven't measured. It appeared in another thread (living room studio) that your working larger than life on this? There's a lot of discussion about sizing on the forum (generally not recommended to go larger than life)... you might do a search on sizing to get a sense of these considerations.

Good for you for posting and putting your work up here. It's a great way to learn!

[Julie Boyles]

Hi Terri,

I didn't want too much time to go by before I thanked you for taking time to look at this. I did make some changes based on your advise. I softened the eyelashes a little and his mouth some although I'm not sure how much it shows in the updated version below. I will remember all your advise about edges when I start my next portrait.

You were right about the larger than life size. My goal for this portrait was to really figure out mixing colors and how to work the brushes. I find it a little easier to work large so I made it a little bigger to give myself a better chance of success. The next portrait I have planned is the correct size and I can't wait to start it!

Thank you again for your advise and time. I'm posting the final one below. I hope the changes I made will show.

Thank you,
Julie
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[Terri Ficenec]

Your changes made a difference Julie. He looks much more integrated, now. Did you also warm up the background and his hair? (Sometimes just the lighting when you take a photo can make colors look different,) I like the warmer tones there.

[Judson Eneas]

For the skin tone I think that you should add just a dash of yellow ochre, particularly for the rouge part of the face. I also think that you need to add some highlight to the skin.