Astarte (Star) - In Charcoal

[Verdaccio]

This is a child commission that I am doing right now - actually the first of two with this child - second one is her as a fairy!

Thought I would post the various steps that I take. This is a difficult portrait because the subject is a bubbly 3 year old who's natural expression is a smile verging on a laugh - hence all of my shots of her with her mouth closed didn't work - the ones where she was laughing and happy did. So here I am trying to "get the mouth right" - the curse of portrait artists everywhere. http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif

This is the charcoal stage - I do a complete rendering in charcoal first on my canvas as a map to my underpainting. This is just the figure and not the whole board, which is 21x21 inches.

<IMG SRC="http://www.fineportraitsinoil.com/StarBW400-70.jpg" border=0>

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Michael Georges
www.fineportraitsinoil.com (http://www.fineportraitsinoil.com)

[ArtyHelen]

I really hope you don't mean you paint over this!
This is gorgeous 'as is'!

Helen


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

[wendee]

I totally agree with Helen..just lovely http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif

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http://www.angelfire.com/art/wendee

[TMoore]

Thanks for starting this series, Michael. The process for oil is is so different from watercolor and I have such a curiousity about the oils. It will be great to see how you do them. Love your site/work, by the way. It is one of the few that I can open (firewall).

Tammy

[sandge]

Sensational! I can't wait to see the next stage. Thanks for sharing. http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

best wishes
sandra

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http://www.fletcherfineart.com

[Verdaccio]

Originally posted by ArtyHelen:
I really hope you don't mean you paint over this!
This is gorgeous 'as is'!

Helen




Hello everyone, thanks for the comments! Helen, yes I intend to paint over this. I used to hate painting over something that I had slaved over to get it just right in charcoal - but it is part of my process to take every stage to as much detail and refinement as I can. I have learned to see this stage as a learning exercise and part of building a good painting rather than a finished product - however, I am starting to offer charcoal portraits as well - I have had so much practice! http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

I am working simultaneously on another of this subject and I have yet another adult commission coming in next week, so I should post the Verdaccio underpainting late next week if all goes well.

I really like to see other's paintings in process and sharing mine - we work on something so hard we want someone to see it. Thanks again for the interest!



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Michael Georges
www.fineportraitsinoil.com (http://www.fineportraitsinoil.com)

[ArtyHelen]

Originally posted by Verdaccio:
Helen, yes I intend to paint over this.


http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/eek.gif It almost feels illegal! http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/eek.gif
Do you at least keep all your charcoal beginnings on computer file?
I am looking forward to the next stages, but it's so sad to think this will no longer exist! http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/frown.gif
I'm looking forward to seeing what you do next - please scan/photograph regularly?

Great work,

Helen




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

[Gail]

Beautiful! I can nearly hear her giggle!

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"...whatsoever things are lovely...think on these things." Philippians 4:8

[Raffaele]

This is very nice Michael. You are as detailed in your process as I am. Ingres said that we "must be ever watchful, ever mindful of detail, right up to the last moment". I keep this in mind always. You are right about the mouth. Teeth to me are a nightmare as well, and where possible should be avoided. I prefer expression to show through in the eyes. Were you able to get snaps perhaps with closed mouth or near closed, but with the indication of a smile showing through?

On another note. The crispness and clarity of your images, posted both here and on your site are exceptional. Do you use a digital camera or 35mm slides transferred? I like the fact that you are able to show the stages of your process so readily. Am anxious to see your verdaccio and the background to this portrait. Excellent craftsmanship.

Raffaele

[Verdaccio]

Originally posted by Raffaele:
On another note. The crispness and clarity of your images, posted both here and on your site are exceptional. Do you use a digital camera or 35mm slides transferred? I like the fact that you are able to show the stages of your process so readily. Am anxious to see your verdaccio and the background to this portrait. Excellent craftsmanship. Raffaele

I use a digital camera - makes putting up shots quick and easy. I had a 2.1 mega pixel which is what most of the paintings on my site were shot with - did a pretty good job. I have recently upgraded to a 3.3 mega pixel camera (Canon 3040). It works great too. I use the digital not only to capture my work, but as my main camera for shooting clients as well - backed up with 35mm. The shots come out of the camera at about 16x20 inches - you can see peachfuzz on the cheeks. I highly recommend them.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif



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Michael Georges
www.fineportraitsinoil.com (http://www.fineportraitsinoil.com)

[Shirl]

Well I'm another one--this is fabulous as is. I understand, but dern it, I'd take this home NOW if I was the Mother http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif.

Heehee, you'd better do a GREAT painting!!

Shirl (am sure you will http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif)

[campsart]

What can be said that has not already been said??

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"Art is a jealous mistress and if a man has a genius for painting, poetry, music, architecture or philosophy, he makes a bad husband and an ill provider."
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1888), American essayist, critic, and philosopher.

[journey341]

oohhhhh but I too, just want to GRAB this before you can slather it with paint...which I am SURE will be JUST as beautiful but being a black/white portrait artist...I am just drooling over this one....

Jodie

[TPS]

Perhaps you don't want a crit...but...Though well rendered, I find her "look" to be too old. Perhaps it is the proportions. It seems draw to an adult measure. Generally, a child will have the jaw portion not fully developed. Hence, it would appear smaller, and make the eyes lower than half way from the crown. Just a guess. Sorry, it doesn't read right to me for a child this age.

[Verdaccio]

Originally posted by TPS
Perhaps you don't want a crit...but...Though well rendered, I find her "look" to be too old. Perhaps it is the proportions. It seems draw to an adult measure. Generally, a child will have the jaw portion not fully developed. Hence, it would appear smaller, and make the eyes lower than half way from the crown. Just a guess. Sorry, it doesn't read right to me for a child this age.

Thanks for the input TPS! I used photo reference for this piece and while her features are in the correct place, rendering such light values in charcoal is difficult and I found that she looked some what older than she does in the photo. I chalked this up to my experience and have resolved to try to fix it in the underpainting and color. Thanks for your input! :)