Two brothers at the beach, WIP

[Laura Shelley]

Crossposting to Portraiture.

This is a portfolio piece rather than a commission. I'm doing it as a model of a double portrait, since I have a client who's asking about that right now. I'm going to see her tomorrow, probably, so I'm racing ahead on this...

The underdrawing, vine charcoal on Wallis paper, 9x12.



I didn't stop to take a pic until a couple of layers had gone on. Can't resist that Wallis! I can start with softs instead of Nupastels, and it's glorious fun. I'm using the Prismacolor portrait set, Unison portrait set, Schminckes and Senneliers. A few touches of hard pastel and pencils.



Getting my darks in, reflected lights, and so on.



Current state. I anticipate several hours of work on this today and tomorrow. I'm going to try to bring this closer to the photo in several respects, especially the expressions. I un-squinted the younger boy's eyes deliberately, but I want that puckish grin on the older boy's face, and it's not there yet.

All comments are welcome. Fire away!



The reference photo for comparison.

[k9artisan]

All I can say is WOW! This looks so great! I can't wait to see the finished piece. It looks like you work really fast too. Great job!
~am

[SweetBabyJ]

You've set yourself quite a goal here- good for you!

The problems I see coming at you are all stemming from "too old a facial structure" on each one of these. In the older boy, the forehead is too high, and the jaw line too narrow- these are both giving him far more years than he has. Double-check those two areas- and perhaps the distance between upper lip, top of cheekbone and upper eyelid- I think the face is overlong in those dimensions. The younger one is harder for me to pinpoint- but he is older looking than the photo- measuring all of the points- lip corner to cheekbone too hairline to top of head, et al may show you how to give him back his years.

What a task to do a double portrait in two days!! Congratulations and good luck!

[Khadres]

Originally Posted by SweetBabyJ

You've set yourself quite a goal here- good for you!

The problems I see coming at you are all stemming from "too old a facial structure" on each one of these. In the older boy, the forehead is too high, and the jaw line too narrow- these are both giving him far more years than he has. Double-check those two areas- and perhaps the distance between upper lip, top of cheekbone and upper eyelid- I think the face is overlong in those dimensions. The younger one is harder for me to pinpoint- but he is older looking than the photo- measuring all of the points- lip corner to cheekbone too hairline to top of head, et al may show you how to give him back his years.

What a task to do a double portrait in two days!! Congratulations and good luck!

This is great! I agree with SBJ about the aging thing....and I think the older boy's right eyebrow (his right, not ours) is a bit more curved up in the photo...yours is a bit level which almost makes him look as if he's scowling, or frowning. Children's eyebrows and mouths are sooooooo delicate...the least little thing can make 'em look totally different.

Your colors and composition are great and I know this is gonna come out beautifully!

[Laura Shelley]

Thank you for your comments and extra pairs of eyes. They are invaluable! I do work fast, and I can paint myself into a corner when I charge ahead too quickly.

Yes, I'm way too structured and hard-edged right now--they look like little old men. I seem to have lost some of the contours in the drawing and need to get them back, especially that delicate angle of the jaw on the older boy. The upper lip on the younger is WAY too short--I may have to do plastic surgery there! Luckily with Wallis that turns out to be no problem whatsoever.

[Laura Shelley]

Here's where I got today--there are still some things to do, notably fixing the eyes on the older boy. I have now come to the firm conclusion that you just can't go un-squinching smiling eyes, because they won't look right no matter what you do. I sort of figured that, but now I have firm proof, which helps when you are dealing with a client!

[Laura Shelley]

I hope I don't have to do too much more to this, but I will if necessary. If anything I have done strikes you either well or ill, I can take it. I'm interested in general impact, the likenesses and age appearance, composition, values, skintones and what have you. Thanks for looking! I know the instant I click Submit ten things will jump out at me!

As I mentioned, this is a portfolio piece to show to a client--she has already made a deposit, but is deciding on size and format. Now, of course, I'm thinking this should have been 12x18 rather than 9x12, but live and learn!

The scan is cut off a tad at the right edge, but I've cropped it more or less the way it might appear in a mat. It will be matted and framed to show to her.



Closeups of the faces.