Emma

[Mary Sparrow]

Thanks everyone for your help. I know there are several of you that don't think I should try this at all, however, I really am going to go at this with the thought that I may be doing the whole thing over. I know that the family really doesn't want to deal with re shooting the photos, so I think this is the best approach at this point.

To add to this challenge, I have been asked to just put greenery in the background. So now I need to come up with a background that will work.

[Michele Rushworth]

As far as the greenery, I'd go find something you like and photograph it in EXACTLY the same lighting conditions as you had for the shot of the girl. Same soft light, same angle of light, etc.

One of my favorite artists for painting children outdoors is Hongmin Zou, on SOG at http://hongminzou.com -- check out his backgrounds, especially how the values enhance the composition and make the figure stand out.

[Mary Sparrow]

I have started this and am not sure how to handle her eyes. It is hard to tell from the monitor, but because of her sight issues, her eyes do not always line up. From what I remember, MOST of the time you looked at her they did not line up and had an odd look. Now that I am working on her eyes, what do I do? Do I correct them or paint as they are? Do I make this decision on my own, or somehow ask the parents what they think?

It is amazing how something so subtle as moving the pupil a tad can change the whole likeness.

How would you handle this?

[Mary Sparrow]

Here is a close up of her eyes. If you notice, the pupils are not going in the same direction and it appears as if her left (our right) pupil is larger than the other. Would you paint this as is, correct completely or just correct a tiny bit?

[Chris Saper]

HI Mary,

In most situations I would just ask the subject (or the parent) how they feel about an irregularity. In this situation , though, I think I'd just paint the eyes the way they are. You'll be able to minimize the asymmetry by making one eye (here, the eye on our left) the focal point - so its edges are a little crisper, its contrast a little higher.

I did a portrait about a year ago where the child had one eye that tended to wander a bit away from center. As I painted the eye in a "correct" location, it was immediately obvious to me that her likeness was diminished. In this case, I just made the decision to paint the eye just as it is, and the parents were thrilled.

You will do a great job.