Youngest Daughter

[Chris Saper]

Dear Lou and Rendi,

The first observation I would make about this piece is that your source material is problematic at best. Photos taken with a flash that is attached to the camera invriably produce the poorest images to be used for painting resources - the light is flat and there is not enough light/shadow patterning going to be able to see, let alone render, 3-dimensional form. There has been a wealth of information already written on lighting the subject, photographing the subject, and choosing good source material; in addition you can use the "search messages" button at the top of any page to search out more specific topics.

Does the image you have posted look like the painting? To me it is very gray/blue and the color appears washed out. If the painting does not look like the image on the monitor, please refer to the section about photographing paintings, since it is impossible to comment on color that is not representative of the painting.

The values in this portrait, with the exception of the dress, really are quite narrow, and the painting would benefit from clear differentiation among dark, middle and light values. Peggy Baumgaertner and I have both offered topics here on massing in three values. Your resource material certainly puts you at a disadvantage in this regard.

It's difficult to comment on the drawing without seeing the source material.

My recommmendation to you is to set, as your first priority, developing skill at getting or selecting suitable source material if you are to paint from photos. Painting from life, certainly a model, but even still lifes, lit with a single light source, will help a great deal in knowing what to look for in your photo-based paitnings. Study the sections that deal with good photography, and invest your energy here first. Continuing to paint with poor material will not enable you to move forward in your work.

I hope this has been helpful, good luck!