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Hi,
I am not particularly adept at computer stuff but it under the pro section, under the title "The Biggie Pastel". I am about to unveil a new one, but the weather in the northeast has been one grey cloud for weeks and I can't get a good shot of it.
I started working just from photos as many of the people here on the forum have. I live in RI and am a frequent visitor to the Boston Museum. When I compared my skintones, lifeless, to what I saw in the masterpieces in that museum, I could no longer be satisfied with paintings done from photos.
The color and the paint quality in the Velasquezs, Sargents, Copleys, Rembrandts, Stuarts and Renoirs made me ashamed of my work.
The faces especially in a Renoir or a Stuart are made up of so many shimmering touches of color. The skintones don't go from light to dark with a little pink on the cheeks and lips. To actually see paintings like that up close is a real eye opener.
It isn't always possible for many portrait artists today to have your parons sit, but much can be learned by continuous work from life. It also helps you enormously with the work done from photos.
Children have such wonderful color and freshness.
The little girl that "sat" for her portrait was extremely lively, 5 seconds and she moved! However I was able to grab her color and use the photo for drawing. I had the photo blown up to lifesize as well. Have your photo processer blow up the head to the size you are working.
Another tip, put rouge and lipstick on them (tastefully), the girls love it and the extra color works in the painting.
Good luck in your next effort!
Sincerely,
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