"Charlie" - a self-portrait

[Colorix]

Barb, thank you! Seems I'm finally loosening up. (Or, I should only *have* 3 hours for each painting... LOL!)

Cartoons, caricatures (sp?). Often only a few spare lines gives the essence. Somewhere, I read the advice that a portrait artist (normal portraits) does well in exaggerating (slightly) the most typical feature of the portraitee (would the artist be 'portrator', then? :-) . It was 'old' advice, from about 100 years ago or so.

And, when we see a person from a distance, we recognise the whole posture. On the other hand, when a man shaves off his beard, or a woman changes glasses, or something, we don't even see it, until 3 days later... The human brain is a funny thing.

[DAK723]

Originally Posted by Colorix

...Oh, I know things are 'off' in the SP, there's something wrong with the ______ (insert feature of choice). What I'm starting to wonder is if it really matters? I have to do a few more portraits to test my theory, but I have a strong feeling that the likeness might not be in the exact placement and measurements. I have to try this out, but it just may be so that eyes/nose/mouth are details added to the gestalt. Does anyone know if it is so? Or the other way around? Do tell!

This is a question that I have been pondering for many years. I haven't really come to any conclusions. I think in many cases the overall head shape (and hair, beards, etc.) are the most important thing. Because we do often recognize people before we are close enough to really see the facial features.

But in other cases when I have done portraits, I have thought it was the facial expression that is most important. The expression - especially that darn mouth - is what shows us the personality.

What it might boil down to is the particular unique features in that specific person. Since the measurements are very close to the same in most everyone - perhaps it is the differences from the average that stand out and make someone unique and recognizable. For a person with a very large chin, for example, or a wider than normal space between nose and mouth - it is that "feature" that needs to be accurately portrayed or possibly exaggerated. (I would say slightly exaggerated, since the "mind's eye" probably does exaggerate it.)

Someone (like my Brother, for example) who has a very bushy beard looks totally different without it - even though his other features don't change. A number of years ago he shaved beard and moustache and, honestly, I would not have recognized him if he had been standing next to me. In his case, the beard seems to be his most recognizable feature.

James Gurney in his blog wrote a bit about exaggeration in portraits:

http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/20...-likeness.html

BTW, your self-portrait is excellent - and thank you for your kind words about the class that I taught here in the pastel forum.

I might also mention that Charlie contributed to those lessons and taught me a lot about using color (or colour) to help define form and create depth.

(I sent you a PM about this portrait - I hope you got it!)

Don

[Colorix]

Don, got it, haven't gotten *to* it yet. Will, soon.

Starting from the neutral 'ideal' egg-shape with the half-half-half measurements is a good way to find what differs. My mug has a longer upper lip, and a smaller chin, and a fairly full but narrow mouth. Eyes closer together, too, than the norm. But for catching likenesses, I think the 'ideal egg' really works well to find characteristics. Bigger, smaller, wider, shorter *than*.

Ah, your brother, well, there is always the exception. :-)

Over the years, the predominant 'faces' people make will mark their features. So, a face will tell of the character of a person, to an extent.

[Tracy Lang]

Wow Charlie, this is brilliant! Love seeing the wip of the colorist method applied to portrait...and self portrait at that.
Really wonderful!

Tracy

[Dougwas]

You should step out of your comfort zone more often, Charlie. Wonderful painting of a wonderful person.

Doug

[Colorix]

Tracy, Doug, thank you! It is good-for-you to step out of the comfy zone now and then. Though, still-lifes used to be mine, and then I decided to learn landscapes, way out of the zone. That's 3 years ago, and I'm still at it. I found that the boring landsccapes were actually interesting!

[Sueb]

Wow, Charlie! Time to change your tiny head and showcase this lovely portrait.

[chuas2]

Wow, your inspirational color sense translated to a portrait. Absolutely beautiful portrait of a lovely lady!
Chuas

[KD Art]

That is one lovely self portrait. What fabulous colours, Charlie. Kat

[Phil Bates]

Awesome dancing colors. Very nice, Charlie!

P