3 Generations WIP

[Beautiful_Butterflies_Studio]

G'Day All

Well I finally feel that this is the perfect time to do this family portrait, simply because my Aunty was diagnosed with her fourth bout of bowel cancer!

I want to do this portrait for my Nan, who is having a hard time dealing with her youngest daughter's illness (again).

This is the outline, but I feel something is off and I could REALLY do with some help.



Here is the reference pictures I am using (snap shots taken at night), but just to let you know the real photo sizes are only 1.5x3" and that includes mostly background!

and


I don't know where to go from here, I know my style is far from realistic, and in reality I don't think it should be, as in the photos, my aunty Joy (middle) had only just had a chemo treatment, and wasn't looking so good (this was her third bout of bowel cancer!).

I was thinking of doing a grisalle first, just to work out the values and that, and then add colour in washes over that, or I could just paint directly using a limited palette!

Like I said, I am in need of some advice!

Thankyou for looking
Firehorse Australia

[Beautiful_Butterflies_Studio]

Oh forgot to mention this is 11x24" on gessoed masonite.
The blue tape is so I can "frame" it later using black paint.

Just for information - order left to right is me, my nan, aunty joy (the VErY sick one), aunty Ros, and my mum.

Thankyou again
Firehrose Australia

[Lady Carol]

Hiya fire horse nice to finally meet you, or at least get to see what you look like. You have good basis of a drawing here from the photograph. Shame your reference is so small. One suggestion is that Aunty Ros is looking more to our left than you have drawn her.

Edit:
Oh silly me, I see that you have used two photos as you couldn't get the pose in everyone with one. Disregard my crit.

[Beautiful_Butterflies_Studio]

Originally Posted by Lady Carol

Hiya fire horse nice to finally meet you, or at least get to see what you look like. You have good basis of a drawing here from the photograph. Shame your reference is so small. One suggestion is that Aunty Ros is looking more to our left than you have drawn her.

Edit:
Oh silly me, I see that you have used two photos as you couldn't get the pose in everyone with one. Disregard my crit.

Thankyou for the welcome of my face

Anyway, yes I have combined both images and I have also removed the ciggy from aunty joy's hand (she has enough problems without it anyway ). I didn't want her dead center, I did try it in photoshop, and it looked to false.
Yep I did use 2 references, just had trouble getting us to all look at the same time! Turns out, out of the 5 photos of us, these two are the only ones where we weren't been rude, falling of the chair (me anyway ) or giving photographer a death stare (dad isn't the best photographer as it was, but he was been exceptionally cheecky!)
Firehorse Australia

[idcrisis55]

hi Firehorse, what a thoughtful expression of caring. Your Nan will treasure it as will all your family. I don't know much about portraits or figurative painting but one thing I would suggest is measure the width and height of the heads and the bodies. That will give you a ratio of what the head width needs to be so the head looks a natural size in relation to the body. Great idea to do a grisaille too. I'll be back to see your updates! Keeping your aunt in my thoughts and prayers!

Ann

[Beautiful_Butterflies_Studio]

Originally Posted by idcrisis55

hi Firehorse, what a thoughtful expression of caring. Your Nan will treasure it as will all your family. I don't know much about portraits or figurative painting but one thing I would suggest is measure the width and height of the heads and the bodies. That will give you a ratio of what the head width needs to be so the head looks a natural size in relation to the body. Great idea to do a grisaille too. I'll be back to see your updates! Keeping your aunt in my thoughts and prayers!

Ann

Ann thankyou for your thoughts and prays.
Also thankyou for the suggestion, I went through and feel everything seems okay, but i guess I want this to be prefect, and I just know my style and talent is far from that!

Anyway, last nights efforts...


Not much I am afraid, as I have been trying to keep cool (heat wave, and I am NOT a hot weather person )
I put in a flat background until I see how I go with the people, then I can see if it needs more.
Like I said, I am not realistic (or very good yet), but now that I see it here, definetly needs a couple of changes.

ALL C&C WANTED AND NEEDED!

Thanks
Firehorse Australia

[idcrisis55]

I have no doubt you will get it just the way you want. You are off to a good start with the grisaille!

Ann

[Beautiful_Butterflies_Studio]

Originally Posted by idcrisis55

I have no doubt you will get it just the way you want. You are off to a good start with the grisaille!

Ann

Ann thankyou for the booster - very much appreciated!

Non done last night as hubby was ill, but hopefully tonight I can work on it again, but now I am off to clean house and play on wetcanvas