Repairing Rick--a repair in progress...

[crafor]

Thank you all very much.
You people are very talented, and your comments encourage me.
To hear that the likeness is good, that it feels "loose and lively" --thanks, Octo--relieves a lot of pressure. It is so important to me that he not be disappointed.
Andrew, thank you for your comments. The persistance did pay off. There were several changes, starting with the very first massive one . That hat went through several color changes, a couple of angles changes, and it grew, then shrunk again., ending with FINALLY getting closer to a more realistic color.
Debs, thank you. For the first time I am sure he will like it. I hope, as you said, he'll be over the moon when he sees it. If it's dry, I'll give it to him this weekend.
And I hope you will be seeing more. I just put the next 2 or 3 on the drawing board.
Thank you all very much.
Ella

[Revilo]

You've definitely repaired him. Good job!

[arnieb]

First class result great portrait. Arnie

[crafor]

Revilo, thank you. I appreciate your looking in and commenting.
Arnieb, thanks for that high praise.
Thank you both. I KNOW he will like it.
Ella

[Border Corpsman]

Motivator! In the military we would yell this out to one who pumps us up for a daunting task. I shout out to you "Motivator!" as I prepare to do some work on the painting I am struggeling with. One of my biggest fears with Solace is being so close to what I feel is the end only to possibly have to make some major changes. One thing I keep telling myself is "You will learn much from it." Now, I feel like it is not such a major strongpoint to take. Almost like I have a battle buddy in you lol! It may be painful but like they say "No pain, no gain." Keep 'em coming crafor and thanks for this thread and all the support you give me on my WIP.

Monte

[crafor]

Monte, You made me blush. Your words and your emtion are high praise, and I am humbled. I'm glad I could help you, and am pleased to be your battle buddy. Just remember that I'm learning too, so it'll be a case of the blind leading the blind!
Thank you.
Ella

[Border Corpsman]

Originally Posted by crafor

Monte, You made me blush. Your words and your emtion are high praise, and I am humbled. I'm glad I could help you, and am pleased to be your battle buddy. Just remember that I'm learning too, so it'll be a case of the blind leading the blind!
Thank you.
Ella

I wouldn't use "blind"... maybe lost in the dark... I have night vision goggles I can share though.

[crafor]

LOL! You got a deal, Kid!
Ella

[edwardII]

Hey there Ella, you have gotten some really good feed back so far. I am intimidated by portraiture more then anything else probably and seeing you work this through is good for me and others to see.

I will make a couple remarks based on thread issues already mentioned. For the hat color, that is what looks to me to be an army type (US) olive drab green which is probably more like the greens that come from a mixture of ivory black and yellow rather then the standard blue yellow range. Try mixing a couple of the Blk/Y greens for exercise if you haven't already. Going the blue/yellow way you'll probably be ending up adding black to modify anyway.

Another issue brought up was the grid drafting method, which is valid but not something I do or yearn to do myself. I am aware I could probably to a more realistic job using the scheme but I am comfortably with the "almost" look one can achieve freehand. This is not to say I wouldn't use a bridge and mahl stick to steady my hand while drawing. And then there is all that work involved in grid-ing and multiplying I am a lazy sod as well!

One thing more. Are you drawing on the canvas whilst it rest upon easel...cause for drawing this doesn't really compliment my natural drawing movement. If I can I will draw on canvas...or watercolor paper, what have you, in my more natural drawing position. I'd rather fight getting a likeness then fight also the vertical nature of easels.

P.S. I like the branches for background and will be following along with your work. Thanks for sharing your painting and travails!

[crafor]

That hat! You saw some of the color changes. I don't know what I used finally. I know it's still not the right color, but they love it! I'll try some black/yellow mixes, you may be right, I probably did, but didn't get it right. any suggestions on the hues? I have two blacks, and about 7 yellows.

Rick was frehand, on paper, then charcoal added and traced onto the canvas. I, too, prefer freehand. I still practice that when I can.
Thanks for stopping in and your thoughts.
Ella

[Debzy]

I am a lazy sod as well!

Edward you are funny! And must be English, I was born in Manchester and we use this term all the time, even though I have lived in Australia for 46 years !!! Good responses and insights on Ella's thread, it has been a great learning experience for us all as well as Ella Cheers Debs.

[jimwhalen]

Hello Ella and all. I wasn't here for this amazing journey, but I just scrolled through this thread and I an very impressed with the results of your portrait Ella. It is heartening to see so many good artists willing to help like this. My hat's off to all of you; I am pleased and proud to be a part of this communty.

[crafor]

My Goodness, Jim, Sorry--I didn't see this. Thank you for stopping in and for your kind words.
Ella