All grown up
 

i just completed this portrait and sent it off to the client. I am posting in this section because even though the portrait is delivered I can still learn from your critiques for next time. This really was a joy to paint and I had a wonderful photo to work from. She is a young teenager but someone took this lovely snapshot of her at a wedding reception looking so grown up.

Thanks for looking.

Cynthia

I just took a look at the way the picture posted and it seems a bit off on the color. I had to adjust it in photoshop. There is a bit more shading at her hairline that does not seem to be showing up.

Cynthia,

I think you've done an excellent job with a clear, informative reference photo. You've modeled the features well, and you've integrated the figure with the background with a sensitive use of edges. It takes a lot of skill to paint a portrait like this.

I have a couple of comments on what to look for next time. First, the angle of the photo (from above) makes her head (especially her forehead and crown) bulge forward and upward, so it appears slightly too large in comparison to her upper body. Next time I would lower your point of view. If you are taking a photo, back up and zoom in. Second, her face appears to be lit by a flash. You've done a good job of compensating for the washed-out look, but it is still there to a degree. The bright frontal light combined with dark background says "flash." Next time I would try natural light, shining on the face from a slight angle.

Dear Cynthia,

You have received great comments from Alex - you have probably done as much as you can, given the limitations of your source photo. There a couple of things I would note - the sharp edge on the forehead on our left tends to flatten the face so softening edges like that will help in suggesting dimension.

Also as I look at ends of the hair they don't seem to be casting a shadow on the dress underneath.

She is a gorgeous model, maybe you can get her to model for you, with you as the photographer!