Harrison

Virginia Branch · 03-17-2002, 05:32 PM

This is an 8 x 10 oil of my son I painted yesterday afternoon. The photo reference was taken outside on a sunny day and he was standing against a wall with a plant on his right(our left) blocking some of the sun.

Is the background too streaky? I wanted to convey the sense of shadow and filtered sunlight. He was wearing a grayish white shirt. I all could see was blue in the shadow shapes so I got a little carried away and made it all blue!

Your opinions would be appreciated. I am happy that I think I caught the essence of my son.

Thanks.

Joseph Brzycki · 03-17-2002, 06:54 PM

If you could make the painting not so streaky in (one direction) maybe it wouldn't be so apparent. Just a thought....

Chris Saper · 03-17-2002, 07:56 PM

Wow, Virginia, this is a wonderful painting! I am of a completely different mindset from Joseph, and do not find the background too streaky; actually I think it is fresh and energetic, and lends the right degree of motion to a composition which might otherwise be static. Your temperatures look well stated, you have conveyed a sense of dappled light, you have nice edge variety, and a very harmonious piece (how about that signature?)

Chris

Steven Sweeney · 03-17-2002, 08:15 PM

For the benefit of those of us who plod down the oxcart trail one flat-hooved, measured step at a time, please in the future report that production of a lovely piece like this required many, many hours, perhaps days (it gets hard to remember, sometimes), rather than an "afternoon".

What fantastic light effects you captured in the face! And those rosy red cheeks, which for some reason we don't think of as being a quality of a young boy's features, but I know from my own son's appearance that they're "true".

I don't have any problem in particular with what you refer to as a "streaky" background, though I do find slightly distracting the filbert-brush "starts" on some of those streaks. The only experiment I would conduct on that background is to lighten it up around the right side (viewer's) of the neck, for depth contrast with the shadow on the neck. (I fooled around with this on PhotoShop very briefly, and I liked the effect.) Also, that shadow on the neck might be a little too dark and warm -- there's a bit of heat and harshness to it right now that seems incongruous with the youthfully soft features otherwise.

I think I might go back to my day job and just commission you to do my son's portrait. I'll see how I feel about that later, after the next cup of coffee.

Nice, nice work.

Steven

Patt Legg · 03-17-2002, 09:56 PM

Virginia,

The painting is awesome and I really enjoyed it. I do not disagree completely with Joseph. I love the background. The only thing I might have done differently maybe is to either carry over some of the varied colored side just slightly beyond the other side of the head (only slightly) as it appears to have a half solid/ half streaked (if I may borrow Joseph's description) which in turn cuts the painting in half vertically.

Or, extend the more solid side into the other side slightly. The colors are wonderful and I personally do not feel that it (background) is distracting but would maybe be less pronounced if the above was incorporated. Great job.

Patt

Margaret Elvin · 03-18-2002, 11:07 AM

Just wanted to throw in my 2 cents and say that my immediate reaction to seeing your painting was WOW!, that's beautiful! Never having seen your son, I'm SURE that you did capture his essence as you say. He looks so alive and real. I love the background because as others said, it does add movement and excitement to the piece.

How did you do this in one afternoon? If you have any tips, they'd be appreciated. By the way, was it from a photo or did he pose the whole time?

-Margaret

Virginia Branch · 03-18-2002, 08:43 PM

Thanks very much, Margaret for your critique! I am glad that you liked it.

I have a digital camera that I use quite frequently to shoot subjects for painting. My son and I went outside Saturday afternoon and I had him pose for me. It took about 20 shots to find the right one. He can barely stay still for photos so I rarely paint him from life (unless I bribe him with money!). I then printed it off my computer and went from there. The actual painting is only an 8 x 10 and took about 3 hours start to finish.

I couldn't have done a painting like this a year ago. I have been fortunate enough to take some classes at the Scottsdale Artists' School. My experience with oils was very limited. Also, I study other artists' works, their style etc. So, the only "tip" is as Karin Wells advocates in a recent post...practice!

Try making yourself paint a complete portrait in a certain amount of time. It forces you to make quick decisions. The more you do this the better you'll get. If you do it, let me know how it works.

Margaret Elvin · 03-19-2002, 12:34 AM

Good advice about the time constraint as a way to push the limits. I think it would help me paint more loosely too: no time for fussing around. I'll try it. Thanks for admitting you couldn't have done it a year ago, though I'm not sure I believe you!

-Margaret

Lon Haverly · 03-20-2002, 04:56 AM

Stunning Virginia! I like the background, but the shirt is a little blotchy, and dissapoints the rest of the beautiful work. Perhaps a little organization of the light source there would clarify. Great work!