Brandon, USCG

Jimmie Arroyo · 03-10-2004, 11:12 AM

Looks much better with darker tones. The eyes look different, nothing wrong with that, it works. He looks very bored in the ref pic, like you're asking him too many questions. Your drawing, especially the cropped closeup, makes him look like he's thinking or regretting something.

Would you consider yourself heavyhanded?, just a feeling I get looking at the close-ups. It also could be the jpeg compression giving it that appearance. Did you also try cleaning the ref pic first? I'm taking my pics mainly with digital, but I also scan regular 35mm photos and adjust color or contrast. The pic has a heavy yellow hue which may be restricting your view of the correct or better values. Just a thought.

Hope you don't mind, but here's a different view in just a few minutes on Photoshop. I have limited experience, but I'm sure anyone good at PS could probably make it look even better, but it's just to give you an idea.

Patricia Joyce · 03-10-2004, 12:17 PM

Thank You Jimmie,
Wow, that helps me so much. I have a digital camera and have not had a moment to spend on learning PhotoShop though I know I need too. These pics were taken in a restaurant under very weird lighting. They were not taken for reference for a drawing, but I liked this shot so thought it would be a good exercise. Your adjustments make it easier to see the tonal range.

Yes, I purposefully changed the direction of his eyes, thinking it would make him look more pensive. Me? heavyhanded?!! Guilty as charged! Also guilty of not keeping my pencil sharp. I know I have to work on that.

I do have a confession, Jimmie! When I started the drawing of Brandon I had printed out your drawings of your last portrait (Keri?) as inspiration!!! I would like to train myself to be as meticulous as you are. Looking at your drawings are like looking at a daVinci

Will post progression in a couple of days. Don't see where I will have more time to work on this before the weekend. So frustrating when all I want to do is work on drawing!!

Matthew Severson · 03-10-2004, 11:09 PM

Quote:

He looks very bored in the ref pic, like you're asking him too many questions. Your drawing, especially the cropped closeup, makes him look like he's thinking or regretting something.

I believe it all has to do with his eyes. In the reference photo he is looking toward the upper right- making him look as if hes examining the texture of the ceiling. In the drawing his eyes are looking forward, giving him a pondering look. I prefer the drawing to the reference.

Matthew

Patricia Joyce · 03-11-2004, 10:46 AM

Thank you for the compliment, Matthew! That was my intention in changing the direction of his gaze, to make him look pensive. I finished the drawing late last night/early this morning and have posted it in Unveilings. After reading Jimmie's suggestion yesterday I was inspired and took off the whole side of his face in shadow and started over! I was much more meticulous and using Jimmie's reference photo (improvement) was able to be a bit more subtle with the tonal range, I think. Overall, I am pretty happy with this one!

I also tried to take better photographs. This is not reading as dark as it is in person. Guess I need to attach PhotoShop this weekend and start using it.