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Administrator's Note: This topic was moved to "Critiques" after the following post.
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Since this is the "Unveiling" rather than "Critique" subject area, I'll just say that one thing I like about this piece is that the subject is doing something meaningful to or characteristic of him, rather than just rigidly posed in some standing or sitting position wearing "portrait clothes". This won't work for every subject, but it seems to fit the "looks" of this fellow, who doesn't appear to be someone who would enjoy a long gubernatorial pose in a button-down suit and tie.
The drawing looks good, proportions correct, color hues look accurate. I grew up in hunting country in the rural West, and I kind of feel like I know this guy just from the way you've depicted the clothing and setting.
The composition is notable for the fact that the subject seems to be walking right out of the painting. I'd probably bring the left edge over to just behind the collar; that is, lop of the left 1/4 to 1/3, and bring the subject's face back into the focal area of the painting. I'm not saying that a portrait can't be constructed in a horizontal format, but I think it would work better if the subject's gaze were out over the larger portion of the format, rather than just getting started before it runs off the picture. So if this subject were to stay where he's at but turn around and look the other way, the piece would probably seem more balanced, more comfortably readable.
(I also have a slightly unorthodox sense of composition and I have a feeling that I could make my peace with this after I got used to it. But I don't believe the present composition would be favored as a rule.)
You might want to re-post this in the "Portrait Critiques" area if you're interested in possibly soliciting additional comment.
Very nice work -- this one's growing on me every time I flip back to it.
Steven
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