Kelly on Ice-my first custom panel

Lisa Ober · 05-08-2005, 08:17 PM

Carolyn, no need for even a hint of jealousy. I have said before and will repeat: Speed doesn't mean quality. It simply shows impatience. I promise your 20 plus hours will be well spent and you will have a beautiful piece. Honestly, when I paint or do pastels I sit down and it turns into a freak show. I don't stop even for the potty. I work until I can't anymore and that is usually around 5 AM. I don't even step back like most people do to look over what I am doing. My husband says I am driven. I will let him think that but it's just plain old lack of constant discipline or desperation for cash (after all, one must eat).

Jenni, thank you! I'm glad you liked the skin tones since I have really been struggling to make them better. The jacket itself went on and on and on. I will stick with solids for the next few. I've had my fill of patterns for the month. No wonder I tell clients to put their children in something simple. If I had to do patterns like this all the time I would be crazy----er.

You are both really supportive. Thanks!

Jimmie Arroyo · 05-08-2005, 11:45 PM

Oh good grief, you know I gotta chime in. Lisa, Lisa, Lisa. You REALLY think you need to slow down with the pastels? This is amazing, simply AMAZING.

A couple of things that bothered me have already been mentioned; the eye and the shadow behind her. I'm gonna take a pic of mine at eight hours, and most will be thinking "Dang, how are you going to save that?"

Have you seen the work of Jane Lund, her work is hard to find on the net. You might find some poor quality ones, but I remember an article on her in maybe the Pastel Journal and they had good pics. Anyway, her stuff was very detailed. I believe some could take up to 18 months to complete. I think. This kinda reminds me of it, but 17 months, 29 days, and 16 hours quicker.

You rock!

Lisa Ober · 05-08-2005, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmie Arroyo

Oh good grief, you know I gotta chime in. Lisa, Lisa, Lisa. You REALLY think you need to slow down with the pastels? This is amazing, simply AMAZING.

A couple of things that bothered me have already been mentioned; the eye and the shadow behind her. I'm gonna take a pic of mine at eight hours, and most will be thinking "Dang, how are you going to save that?"

Have you seen the work of Jane Lund, her work is hard to find on the net. You might find some poor quality ones, but I remember an article on her in maybe the Pastel Journal and they had good pics. Anyway, her stuff was very detailed. I believe some could take up to 18 months to complete. I think. This kinda reminds me of it, but 17 months, 29 days, and 16 hours quicker.

You rock!

Jimmie, Jimmie, Jimmie, YOU ROCK (and you are funny) and if there is one thing I know about you in this short but pleasant experience so far, it's that you always do "save" it. In fact, yours never seem in any danger. Never. Thanks. I am definitely going to put in the darker shadow near the shoulder and I will revisit the eye. Sometimes I just get sick of these "practice" things though and I want to chalk it up to experience albeit short and sassy.

You know, as you draw you are probably humming a tune, pacing yourself, thinking in depth about your composition (which shows) and enjoying the experience while I listen to music most people at my age laugh at it's so obnoxious, drink soda like it's going out of style (no caffeine though) and color at a pace that would make you think I just saw a ghost or worse. It's almost like a disease. I think by doing more than vignettes I will add lots of time to my pieces. Maybe one day I will spend a week on one! I shudder at the thought but there is still hope.

Hey, thanks. Your comments always brighten my day.

Jean Kelly · 05-08-2005, 11:54 PM

Hi Lisa, I'm so glad you tried this surface and liked it so much! This one is moody compared to the other one. The first Kelly was very sensual (with attitude), this seems more mysterious.

Next time you do your reference work, try to think of things like the hand position in advance. Or better yet, catch it during the shoot. I once had a client come back for a session, just to photograph her hands. My original reference looked okay at first, but when I painted the hand it looked more like a claw. No matter what I tried it still looked like a claw (not good on a 5 year old girl)!

I like this version also, for a practice piece it is very successful. And even if the jacket was a pain to do, it really "makes" the portrait.

Jean

Lisa Ober · 05-09-2005, 12:06 AM

Thanks Jean! Yes, I love creating my own texture. I found it a little tricky to get as much of a texture as I would like (without lines) but after a few layers of the ground I think I have a formula. I almost like it straight out of the jar with a roller and then followed quickly with a soft brush. Can this stuff be sanded? I haven't tried that yet.

Yes, with photo shoots I will try to plan more in advance. Great advice. I didn't plan at all to use any of the photos that showed hands and so I only had one or two to choose from and they weren't good. Still, I liked the facial expression so I went with the best I had. I hope to plan better if I can ever get a commission that goes beyond a vignette. I've been reading up in the reference photo section in preparation for what I hope will be an improved system for photos. Since I do so many children's portraits odds are I won't be working strictly from life any time soon so I better get it down if I want to get past this rut I feel I have been in.

Again, thank you so much for your advice on the pastel ground. It has really been helpful and saved me money.

Lisa Ober · 05-09-2005, 12:14 AM

JIMMIE, perhaps you have a fever or are coming down with something. Have you been eating properly? Taking your vitamins? I just looked at Jane Lund's work and I think you might want to rethink putting her name in a sentence that has anything to do with me. WOW. I have never seen her work until now but let's just say I had to get a tissue to wipe off the tears. If only...