The Honorable William Nelson

Linda Eades Blackburn · 06-26-2005, 10:38 PM

Garth, is only one image showing? I did post two, one showing the whole canvas and the other is a closer view of the head. I didn't take any other close ups while I had the portrait. Both show when I view this thread? This was commissioned by a very close friend of the Judge. I actually painted another less formal painting for them that they have in their office of their business. This piece hangs over their fireplace in their home. I did actually meet this man at a New Years Eve Party and he was a real character. The hardest thing about painting someone who has passed away is the tears you have to deal with when the painting is complete. Sometimes it is difficult to finish a painting when I know that I will make someone cry. The clients were very pleased with the portrait. They also had me paint a duplicate of the casual portrait for the Judges daughter because she liked their painting so much.

I also use Liquin for glazing with alkyds and with oils. I use some oils with the alkyds. I usually paint very thin and layer the paint to help achieve the translucence of skin. Actually, I have found that if you want to speed the drying time of oils, you can just use the alkyd white with oils and that really speeds up the drying, since the lighter the color, the slower it drys.

I am so excited to have found this sight and to be accepted as a member. I have seen so many fabulous works and read so much useful information. Thanks for your offer to help with posting images. I'm not sure I understand how it works yet.

Linda Eades Blackburn · 06-26-2005, 10:43 PM

Lisa, thanks for your kind comments. Yes, alkyds are fast drying oils and are mixable with oils. I am working on a few things now and hope to post again soon.

Garth Herrick · 06-26-2005, 10:48 PM

Linda,

I just surfed over using Safari as the browser (Mac) instead of Internet Explorer, and lo and behold your second image is there! My apologies. It must be my system!

Garth

Linda Eades Blackburn · 06-26-2005, 11:01 PM

I am using safari also on a mac. Wonder why it doesn't show up on Explorer? I can't log in on Explorer because I don't know my password! Have it remember me on Safari. Guess that's pretty lazy huh?

Garth Herrick · 06-26-2005, 11:28 PM

Linda,

I am looking at your close-up and your draftsmanship is amazing!

There seems to be so much more to your painting technique than your photos are revealing. I wonder if these two images are more compressed as JPEGS than needed?

If I may ask, what level of compression are you using (I am thinking in terms of Photoshop, with 12 being the best but way too big a file, 10 no different than the best but still too big a file, 7, or 8, quite acceptable, and below this number, less than desireable)? I have found lately that I sometimes end up with too big a file size at 7, or 8, but that if I compress it one more time, the file shrinks to a size that can be posted, with no apparent loss of image quality. Just a tip that seems to work for me.

Sorry for the off topic digression,

Garth

Linda Eades Blackburn · 06-26-2005, 11:33 PM

I think it is compressed to a 3. After I save as, I click on the image to check the size (command I) as that is the only way I can figure out what the actual image size is. When I get it to the accepted size, I then upload the image and at that point, it usually ends up being about half the kbs allowed. I just can't figure that out?

Garth Herrick · 06-26-2005, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linda Eades Blackburn

I think it is compressed to a 3. After I save as, I click on the image to check the size (command I) as that is the only way I can figure out what the actual image size is. When I get it to the accepted size, I then upload the image and at that point, it usually ends up being about half the kbs allowed. I just can't figure that out?

Well take a chance and experiment with a larger size save, because this compression level at 3 is not acceptable for your purposes! You may find when you save at greater than 100KB, say at level 7, that once this image is uploaded it is really only 65KB for Forum purposes. I also don't understand why that is.

Please follow what I advised in the last post. Save your image (going back to the original and shrinking it again. Don't re-use your level 3 image over again!) to level 8, or if you dare, 9. With all the beard detail you may well end up with a file size larger than 100KB, but don't fret! "Save-As" this image one more time at the same level 9, and see what file size you get on the second save. The image will be sharp and true, and yet be a usable file size for this Forum. Try it!

Garth

Michele Rushworth · 06-29-2005, 06:46 PM

Linda, this is gorgeous! I especially like how the greenish background is used to set off the reddish tones of his skin. Very much a "living" portrait!

Alexandra Tyng · 06-29-2005, 08:02 PM

A posthumous portrait is so difficult to do! I think you have done a good job, especially with your lively brushstrokes.

Alex

Cynthia Daniel · 06-26-2005, 11:29 PM

Linda,

I'm viewing in Netscape and don't see the second image. I went into your post and clicked on the name of the file and Netscape says it cannot be displayed because it contains errors. If you possibly renamed the file with a different file extension without actually resaving it, this could cause the problem. For example, if you have a tif file and just rename it as a jpg file, this won't work. You have to actually open the file and then do a "file save as." Anyone, sorry if you already know this.

In any event, you can probably fix the problem by creating a new file and going into your original post where you can delete the current one and reload.