My little cowboy Ben!

[Debzy]

MY IMAGE(S):




GENERAL INFORMATION:
Title: My little cowboy Ben!
Year Created:
Medium: Oil
Surface: Board
Dimension: 12 X 15
Allow digital alterations?: Yes!

MY COMMENTS:
I found this the other day, I forgot i had done it! It is a portrait of my son when he was 3 or 4 years old, I can't find the ref photo, but will look for it. I gave up painting after this until last year, then started water colour. As you can see, I had a lot to learn. I used very thick paint, that was how i liked to paint back then. Thought I would post it anyway, probably way too late to re-work, but maybe some critique for future portraits???? This is the same rock climbing son who I painted on the Rock a while back. =)) :D

MY QUESTIONS FOR THE GROUP:
Just general critique would be good thank you! =)) Debs. xxx

[TOMYOO]

I personally like it as it is, Like the thick layers of paint and the expression on the face. I also have paintings that I have done years ago and I do not like to alter any of them even when I see the mistakes I have done on them, as it is kind of record of my progress. AS you say it is too late to re work this , but with pastels it is different. All the best. Tony.

[reverseengineering]

That shirt looks amazing. Very vividly expressed. I can see the little sailboats on his shirt. Great oil work.

[maryinasia]

love this

[yarddog]

yipee-ky-o-ky-aye.. ...good job...glad you took it back up.....yd

[snoball]

No crits from me, I love the impasto paint and the great detail you have achieved even with it.

[Jonny_L]

great impasto painting style and colour, there's a lot of good stuff here.
One thing for the future: are the arms and hand a bit thin/small?
Amazing how you have the illusion of detail but still keep your impasto textures.

[tgsloth]

Done with a lot of confidence and skill. Love the eyes. To me, the main idea for improvement could be by increasing the contrast in the face. Presently, I think the face lacks darks. I attach a photoshop to hopefully illustrate.

[Newb]

I normally don't like impasto but this is really good just the way it is. Love the use of light and balance of color. I wouldn't touch it.

[AllisonR]

I think this is a really rich, confident painting. It looks like you had fun while you were painting it. The texture contribute a lot to this feeling. As another said, the shirt does not actually have a lot of detail, but the strokes that are there let us fill in the blanks, which makes it strong. I think the arms are fine, kids have big heads. I think his nose weak, a bit too upwards, as is the space between nose and mouth. And agree some deeper shadows on left and in the hat on left are missing. The eyes are very well painted, but do not match the rest of the painting imo, they are not a few confident strokes, leaving us to fill in the details, like the rest of the painting, but instead they are completely done and missing texture.

[teri cleverly]

This is a very good painting. As for the thick paint, it seems to be a great contrast to the gentle expression your son portrays in this portrait. Don't quit on the thick paint. That and your boy's expression make it a very engaging piece to look at.

[Debzy]

Thank you so much everybody for your positive and encouraging responses. I have been away for a week in Fiji so have only just logged on. I am so pleased to get your advice and positive input, I haven't done oil painting since this work of my son and was really unsure what the response to the thick paint would be. Now I feel confident to attempt more oil works in the future and I always loved working with thick paint in the past. I agree with the shadows and thank you for the photosho Bob, it does make a difference and in future it will be something I take into account. This painting was done a long time ago with no experience except high school art under my belt. I was in the dark as far as composition, perspective, tone and colour were concerned and just went for it!!! I was proud of it when I had done it, but it had been stuck away in a cupboard for many years and is still not framed or siged. Perhaps I will do that now! Again, the critique is priceless and I appreciate everything you have said. Cheersand keep smiling. Debs. =))

[BettiePage]

I really like the texture and the eyes.. i wouldn't change it a bit!

[Debzy]

Thank you Bettie, I am so grateful for your feedback and glad that you like my little cowboy. =)) Debs. =))

[mark brazney]

That is great...