Sara's sister Alex

[Maryeve]

This one..is about 75% imo...Im not sure about the background..The client wants it outdoors..it needs to have a similar "feel" to her older sister Sara's in a previous post..but not sure what to do..I know the hands need work..getting to that..

besides the hands and background, what else does it need?...and what are your suggestions!

Thanks in advance...btw..both portraits are 24x36 oil

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/29-Mar-2002/Alexoil.JPG

[Leslie M. Ficcaglia]

Cute kid, MaryEve; Alex has a more expressive look than her older sister and I think she comes to life more. Same comments about skin tones although Alex seems to be less pink with a bit more variation. Roses are hard; each one is like a separate face. I think I got them right in my portrait of my older granddaughter, but when I tried to do "Roses II" of my younger granddaughter the damned flowers never did look convincing. Using a rose catalogue helps, by the way. For the background you could always make the lighter area around her head a dark green, implying foliage. That's effective and would make her face stand out nicely. Her left hand (our right) needs longer fingers. Sometimes when things don't seem to be looking right I start measuring, using the handle of my brush. I check out the relative size of the hand, including fingers, for example, in the reference photo, marking the proper length of the brush with my finger, and see what section of the face (eyebrows to bottom of the nose or whatever else works) is the same dimension as the hand, and then make sure it's equal in my painting as well. A lot of times I don't seem to need to bother with that, but when I can't quite get things the way I want them it's a handy tool and sets up a nice internal consistency.
Leslie

[TeAnne]

I like it, it looks 'old world' :D

[Kamiaken]

Yes, the background bothers me also, but you have captured a very nice expression on this young lady.

Ken