Caleb
 

I did all I can do, so go ahead and let me have it.

Oil, 30 x 24 in.

This first post was taken outside. Just a note, his shirt sleeves are long, all his clothes fit him that way. He is extremely short, but barrel-chested.

I did this partly from a photo, but he came and modeled for me because I could not get a photo that captured his skin tones correctly.

This photo was taken indoors. I did not mess with either photos in photoshop - they both look right to me. I am at home though and not looking at it.

Both photos are a bit blurry.

He's a handsome dude. I believe you about his body shape - all the Glorias look like that too. Except me. Anyhoo, I think you captured a good, natural looking body shape.

Can you post a closeup of the face, and maybe of the boy? At first blush, I like this very much.

Here's a photo of Caleb. It's not the pose I used obviously and it's too dark, but it gives you an idea of what he looks like. I did it from life and photos so I do not have one that is exactly as I painted it. I'll get a close-up of the face today. I already noticed on the computer that his bottom lip is too big - I'll fix that today.

Thanks Lisa!

Wow, that is excellent. If I were going to nitpick, I'd guess that the angle and size of the philtrum are just the tiniest bit off. The result is that his upper lip appears to protrude more.

I think you really caught his essence, especially the expression in his eyes, and the cool values you used there. Great!

Kim,

This is a very sensitive painting. You seem to have really captured his affect, which appears intelligent and a bit reticent, a true reflection of adolescence I think. Verry nice. It is just very pleasant to look at.

Lisa, you may be right about the philtrum, I need to have him come in again.

Thanks Patricia!

Here is a close-up of the face.

Gee, I'm jealous. I really wish I'd painted this.

Anyhoo, upon further inspection, I noticed a couple other tiny things. But I think your handling of him is downright lively so I'm hesitant to say anything. Are his pupils two different sizes? And is the dark part of his iris a little different in each eye? Also, the hard edge of the triangular cast shadow from the bridge of his nose could probably be softened on the left (nose side) to turn the form of his nose more, and let the far edge of that shadow on his cheek do all the heavy lifting for you.

Your pictures are turning out really dark lately. Did you recalibrate your monitor or something?

Lisa,

Yup they are different sizes aren't they? Will fix that. Good advice on the nose shadow.

No, I did not recalibrate, I have no idea - except I have not been messing with them in Photoshop as much as I used to. I am at home when I use the computer & usually do not get it to match unless I lug the laptop down to the studio. Guess I need to keep fixing them.

Command Performance

Kimberly,

I mentioned elsewhere that I had looked at this painting a few times. One of the reasons I had not commented was that the darkness of the images as they appear on my monitor (after filtering down through AOL

Steven,

Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for. I appreciate the time you took.

His lips were difficult. He has some Caucasian, Puerto Rican and African American in him. So, his lips ARE big. He has quite an overbite too. He got braces after I drew him, so when he posed from life his upper lip seemed to protrude more. But, they do not seem correct, so I will be going back to them.

You mentioned a couple of things I had not seen, so this is good. I will be looking at all this asap.

I can see the post on my computer fine - it is dark, but I can see it and all the details. Maybe I need to be lightening them some since two people have now mentioned this.

I just wanted to share the news that I just heard this won First Place in the Midland Arts Association Spring Show, for oils. That was a nice suprise! I wasnt sure I should bother to enter, but it's a rich oil city and I was more interested in showing my work to the possible patrons there. Not to mention the show is hung in the Museum on the Southwest, which sounds impressive - more so than a little-known gallery.

The award is nice, I am just hoping it brings commissions. Of course, when I checked on the link from their site it was all wrong and had contact information about me that is over 7 years old.... why I do not know, but hopefully they will correct it asap.

Thanks for looking.

Congratulations! I'm sure you've thought of this, but you should phone that organization and get your contact info fixed asap.

Kim, every time I visit one of your posts you've won another award! Good for you! I predict that your guts, hard work and talent will take you far.

Thank you Michele & Linda!

I did contact the Midland people - hopefully it will be corrected by tomorrow.

Congratulations, Kim! That is wonderful news, and well deserved!!

Kim, Congratulations!!

Congrats Kim! My hat is off to you.

Jean