second portrait

[wendee]

<IMG SRC="http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/05-Mar-2001/Jay.jpg" border=0>

Hi everyone this is my second attempt at portraits...it's done in pastels...any comments would be much appreciated....have been doing portraits for about 0ne month now...thanks...wendee

[This message has been edited by wendee (edited March 05, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by sandrafletcher (edited March 05, 2001).]

[fmarsh]

Hi Wendee, good to see another Sydneysider

Its a lovely likeness of the dreaded red cross. I think you have incorrectly named your file using a dash rather than a dot. i.e. its named Jay-ipg, rather than Jay.jpg.

I don't think you are able to rename your files once uploaded. So you may have to upload again as Jay.jpg. Then edit the file name in your post.

Fred

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Paintings of Australia, France & Scotland (http://www.geocities.com/fjmarsh)

[sandge]

Hi there!
I have changed the file name to Jay.jpg so I hope this has produced the correct image! http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif

best wishes
sandra

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http://www.fletcherfineart.com

[wendee]

Hi Fred..yes it is good to see another sydney sider.....thanks for the info....Sandra...thanks..your an angel....i seem to always have problems with this darn computer....Fred i can only say one word about your web site...FANTASTIC....

wendee http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/redface.gif)

[This message has been edited by wendee (edited March 06, 2001).]

[fmarsh]

Wendee, This is a great painting for your second attempt at a portrait. You have a good eye for tone. The only suggestions would be:-

The ear seem a bit too long, usually eye to mouth - unless the model has unusually long ears

The strands of hair on the forehead seem like they are stuck to his head. Can you add some depth. Also a touch of tonal variation in the hair (a few highlights)would help.

The facial tones seem highly blended (it could be the scan), which give a "doll like" appearance. Perhaps that is the effect you were after, otherwise I wonder if the blending has been overdone.

You might want to place this in the critiques forum, where you will get more responses.

Thanks for the comments re the website, still got a lot to do to it

Fred

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Paintings of Australia, France & Scotland (http://www.geocities.com/fjmarsh)

[wendee]

Fred...yes saw what you mean about the ear....hmmmm might call it noddy...lol...yes the hair does look stuck on ...i done it on dark brown pastel paper and it was not working very well for me...was not over blended well i dont think...the scan makes it look a bit like that tho...did put highlights on the hair but not strong enough....well i have not had any lessons in anyway so iam learning blindly...lol..thanks for your comments its much appreciated.... http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/redface.gif) wendee

[Beka]

Though the shape of his head and nose are turned away, some of his features appear to be "flat on" facing the viewer, especially around his eyes... ie, his left eye seems to be no further away than his right, where by the position of his head it should be "pushed back" a little bit. This can be an interesting effect, but I'm not sure you meant to do that?

I think the problem (if you are going for a more realistic look) is that there is too much red on the left, at least in this scan, which pulls it forward. Try a cooler tone for the shadows on that side, relative to a warmer tone on the right (nearer the viewer) side.

He looks very amused, like he is trying to hold still and not laugh. Makes me wonder what he is watching, he seems to be very focused on what he is looking at... this may pull the viewer's gaze out of the picture towards the left, you may wish to change the background tone or texture to bring it back in there.

Beka

[wendee]

Beka hi thanks for your informative reply...actually he was looking at me when the pic was taken and i was pulling faces at him....yes when i looked again i did notice too much red on the side of the face....funny tho when i finished it i never noticed any of this ..now i look at it and think..gosh it stinks...why did i not notice when i finished...looking through different eys i suppose....thanks for all the help.... http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/redface.gif) wendee

[tammy]

Most definiately better than I could do. Good job.

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Don't worry, its gonna be all right....
Tammy's Home for Artists (http://tammy.artistnation.com)

[animal]

Originally posted by tammy:
Most definately better than I could do. Good job.




I agree with Tammy,much better than I could do http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[wendee]

Thanks Tammy..thanks animal...i still need lots more practice...lol i actually paint landscapes in oils...thought i would give pastel portraits a go.....hmmmmm got lots to learn in both....wendee

[Linda Ciallelo]

Wendee, do you take your own photos to work from? If possible , it's a good idea to do that. Don't use a flash. Do the composition when you take the photos. Pay close attention to the lighting on the face, get close to the subject. Remember that the shadows and highlights on the face are the only reason that we can see it at all.
This is very good for a second attempt.Don't be afraid to let the pastel strokes show. I would like to see a little "cool" pink in there some place, since the colors are very warm, but with out a discernable shadow, that's pretty hard to do.
Linda

[wendee]

thanks for your reply Linda.....yes i did do it from a photo and yes used a flash....the photo was small.. so i had heaps of problems seeing shadows and highlights......thanks for your help wendee

[bbbilly1326]

Hi Wendee,
I think your portrait has lots of personality. Very good for only your second.
Bill

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Bill
"Paintings are never finished, only abandoned" (source unknown)
index.html (http://hamiltoncarroll.homestead.com)

[wendee]

thanks for your comment bill..i need lots more practise ....but practise makes perfect.. http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif

[ArtyHelen]

This is one that made me smile right back at it! It's a perfectly charming piece, IMHO! Well done! http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif

Helen

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Visit me!
http://pencilartist.50megs.com

[wendee]

thanks for you comment Helen...yes i smile everytime i look at it... http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif