My first oil painting
 

Here is my First!

I am anxious to know what you think, but I think I'm even more nervous.
Here it is:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/i...02/Branch1.jpg
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/i...02/Branch2.jpg
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/i...02/Branch3.jpg

Allow me to introduce myself!

My name is Mark Branscum, I am a pencil artist, but this is my first painting.

I live in Macon, GA, well, actually Warner Robins GA. Anyway, I can't tell you how much I am enjoying this journey of learning portraiture.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this painting. The subject is Bob Branch's Father. Bob Branch has a Flower shop in Phoenix, AZ.

Many years ago I did a pencil of this very subject, which was my first commission work.

I knew then that I wanted to do portraits but it seems that life took me another direction.
Not sure if Bob Branch is even out there anymore but as much as they enjoyed the pencil I wonder what he would think of the painting.

At any rate, I thought it fitting to return to my first commission for my first oil.

Mark

Well! Is it that bad that know one wants to say anything?

Mark :)

No worries...
 

Mark,

This is GREAT! Your first try with oils! I have just a little more experience than you but not much. Your first attempt went well!

I know I refrain from giving too many critiques because I am not sure I have the expertise. And being a fairly new member as well, I am a little nervous to spit things out that may be wrong and regrettable.

But don't worry, you did great here! And don't forget while you may not get replies for some time, or ever... there are hundreds of other posts that will be of use to you! This is really one of the greatest 'classes' because other members ask questions and make statements you may have never thought of, and the threads are incredible. So enjoy, it's a fantastic site!

Mark,

A good effort here, a lot of things well done at this stage. I looked at this a little while ago and wasn

Thanx for the reply, Steven.

I'll take into consideration some of the points you brought out about the shadow.

Though in the reference pic it really isn't there, it's just the warm tone that I painted, but this is maybe a problem of the picture and perhaps one should be there.

The round object to the right is going to be a saw blade, it will go darker, as so not to be such a distraction.

Thanx on the compliments for tonal quality. I have already figured a lot of things I would do diferently on the next one. Being the first, consider it good training ground and chalk it up as experience.

Oh the white space above... no, you're not looking out into a snowy yard. It's more wall with shelfing that hasn't been painted in yet.

All in all, I am well pleased with this first effort, and with some practice with color I am looking forward to the next one already. Each one is another step in the journey... the fun part is enjoying the ride.

Mark

That's a good plan, and I'd take the whole background way down in value as well. Play with the light on the saw blade. There's going to be a bit of reflection on the flat surface (nothing as light as the lights in your figure), and from a few of the filed-tooth surfaces. (Don't even try to paint in every single tooth.) Another thought - how about a handsaw or an old buck saw on that back wall, one the shape of which wouldn't be similar to the shape of the face and head?

That's an idea on the handsaw or something else back there.

I have taken the background down in value! Thanx for the input there. Also, the one eye underneath seems a bit on the puffy side. I have painted in the shelf and that helps frame in the hat more. Still playing the tonal quality of the flesh under the brim of the hat, I am matching what's in the pic pretty close though. I suppose I could go more with it, but it wouldn't be the same. I got it pretty much on now.

I will wait till I update it, so the changes can be seen; perhaps I have it enough.

Mark

Very good for a first portrait!

I agree with Steven that the circle (saw blade?) to the right of the head is distracting. I also think you should tone down the backgroung to make the person stand out.

You might want to check out the shape of the palette on the hat, it seems a little distorted.

You did a very good job on the face, good detail, nice skin color.

I'll start with saying for a first painting, it's OK. I think Steve has made some good comments. I started writing a post, but I am just no good at trying to explain what I mean in words.

So I will just say, watch your values, and really look at the shapes and try and soften the wrinkles.

And most of all keep painting.

I may have misled you there a bit and I don't want you to work away and just hear another oops.

Most definitely, the shadow values need to be taken care of underneath the bill of the hat. But the most problematic detail right now is the fact that the top of the skull is thrusting itself up and outward, which is why the hat (and the bill especially) is made to look so very large, in order to cap such a large head. You need to temporarily forget the hat, just forget that it's there. Get the head where it belongs, in the proportion that it needs, and then sit a hat around it, not above it. ONLY THEN should you be interested in fashioning the shadow effects. Effects are frosting. You need a well-baked cake underneath them.

OK, Steven.

I went back to the painting and after careful study I begin to see what you were talking about.

Fearful to start making a correction of that magnitude on the painting, I decided to take it into Painter first and play with the correction.

This way I can see if it looks right, then go to the painting itself. So, that being said, here is the correction, tell me if I am on target.

I am putting the old pic and the revised pic here together for easier comparision.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/i...02/Branch1.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/i...2/Branch1a.JPG

This seems to be in the right direction!
It looks better to me than the previous!

Mark

Yes, better with the shadow under the brim, Mark, but to my eye the hat and brim are still misshapen and misplaced. I can't see the reference photo to establish this through comparison, but just as one note, I've never seen a seed cap with a brim that was even as wide as the head, much less wider. Cut about 20% off the size of the brim, mostly on our far right. Let the brim come back to the head, instead of ending in that dropped "v" in the hair on our right. Look at other areas again, too, to make sure your angles and curves and "landmark" points are all where they should be in relation to each other.

Thanx, Steven.

We got it now, I think! I am making the changes now to the painting and will show an update soon.

It looks a lot better, even the Wife commented on the changes as an improvement. Her words were "It looks awesome, Mark." That's good enough for me, huh?

Oh well, thanx for the help!

Mark

Great painting for your first!

I too am in Warner Robins; I wish I had seen this in October. I took a workshop in Macon with John De la Vega. What a treat and major knowledge! I know they are going to try and get him to come back this year; you should try to get in on the workshop if he does. Look him up on this website.

Watch all the videos and read everything you can get your hands on, and remember that painting is the most frustrating form of relaxation you'll ever enjoy:)

Happy painting!!

Stay a while
 

Awesome first! Draftsmanship and passion are evident.

My teacher once said, "You can't learn to paint while double-parked." It often takes a while to get any feedback. Sorry for the delay in my reply. I know that anxious feeling of checking the boards for pearls of wisdom from the enormously talented professionals here who take valuable time to comment. Remember to exhale!

Comments above are right on! Values are so important. It is a lesson I need to re-learn every day. Is your painting interesting from across the room? Try patterns in thumbnail sketches.

Remember, your first job is to design the painting well within 3 values. If that is strong, then pencil, watercolor, pastel, or oil will have a better chance of succeeding.

Welcome to the wonderful world of portraiture! No bowl of apples or landscape compares to the satisfaction of capturing a human being.

Mark, I also drove up to the workshop Diana is referring to, and I was very impressed with the local portrait-painting talents living and working in or near Macon. It would be worth your while to try to hook up with some of those local artists. You can probably find a local group that meets regularly to paint from a live model. I can't tell you how much potential you will find in such a group!