A boy and his dog in the poppies

[Bluegill]

I think I’m done with this,
but I would value your opinions and comments on it. This was a portrait commission, and I’ve done very, very few portraits!

I was working from a 4 x 6 inch photo, and the painting is 8 x 10 inches on panel.

In real life, the colors and contrasts are a little bit subtler than they appear in these photos.

I’m please with it overall, but I can’t quite decide whether the painting of the child looks enough like the photo for me to be completely satisfied.

Big ol’ detail:

On Instagram and Facebook as Marktablerart
http://marktablerart.blogspot.com/
http://www.marktablerart.com/

[Phil Brink]

The likeness is pretty good. I think he would come out of the picture more if some work was done with the background. The blurring effect is really nice, but objects in the distance tend to bleach out towards gray. The colors seem a little too vibrant in the distance.

Those who crumble, cannot rebuild themselves.

[Phranque]

That’s quite the challenge! The boy’s eyes are closer together in the painting, his right leg too long, and the dog’s face not quite broad enough. I’d also tone down the green and orange in the background to make it recede. It’s a charming painting, I’m sure it’ll be treasured.

Critiques and comments are always welcome.

[carolkay]

I wonder what it serves to try to copy a photo exact— IMO opinion- just get the concept from the photo and create a work of art from that concept! I’ve seen side by side images of the person and the portrait by Sargeant! The face was much narrower ,, but it portrayed that person still!
IMO trying to copy everything exactly .. closed down the artists creative energy!
I think you’ve done great – let it go- yes the leg looks a bit long – and some arial atmosphere would help !

[FONT="Comic Sans MS"]Carol Sometime's failure is the opposite to success~ but sometimes failure can be the pathway to success

[Bluegill]

Thanks, everyone, for your input. I spend a couple of hours last night making tiny adjustments, and I’m happier now.

On Instagram and Facebook as Marktablerart
http://marktablerart.blogspot.com/
http://www.marktablerart.com/

[Phranque]

Thanks, everyone, for your input. I spend a couple of hours last night making tiny adjustments, and I’m happier now.

Great! Will you post the finished painting?

Critiques and comments are always welcome.

[Bluegill]

Great! Will you post the finished painting?

Thanks, Phranque. Here it is. I am always a little sad that the photos I take to put on Wetcanvas never have the range and subtlety of the real paintings or drawings (and I try to keep that in mind when I look at everyone else’s artwork.) In the actual painting, the colors in the face look more varied. But I think you can get the general idea, anyway.

I didn’t shorten the leg. I didn’t think it looked too long. However, it did look fatter–so I narrowed it a little, and I think that looked better. And I didn’t broaden the dog’s face, just corrected some poor shadows that did make the face look narrower in a spot (Well…OK…I guess that is the same thing as making the dog’s face broader.) I didn’t change the green in the background, but I did make the orange paler and a little more neutral as it receded (and, again, I think the photo makes the oranges look a little more similar than they do in real life.)

The thing I spent the most time on was very carefully adjusting the contours and colors around the eyes, cheek bones, eyebrows, and ears. Very tiny changes, but I think they added up.

Thanks again, everyone, for the advice.

On Instagram and Facebook as Marktablerart
http://marktablerart.blogspot.com/
http://www.marktablerart.com/

[midwest]

That dog. He looks so furry and soft i want to hug him.

Kathie :

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