Portrait of a little girl

[Alexandra Tyng]

I agree with Chris. You obviously have the ability to capture a likeness, but working without light-shadow contrast (i.e., wth a flash reference photo) is not going to help you much. In other words, you can't model light and shadow that is not there.

With respect to grins and teeth, I think the idea of a portrait is to capture something timeless, the essential characteristics and the soul of a person, rather than an instantaneous moment. The combination of "flash" lighting and toothy grin makes it look more like a copy of a photo than a portrait. It's an important philosophical point to consider, because it relates to how you use your references, and also your control over your references. If someone gives you a snapshot of a child and says "can you paint a portrait from this?" I would certainly be able to copy the photo, but if the person is alive, I would say, "If you want me to paint a portrait I have to take my own reference photos," and I would take them the way Chris described. Even better, I would try to do a life study and work from a combination of the two.

I have to say I prefer your color choices to the use of brown in the shadow areas, as this might lead to muddiness. I also prefer the coat lapels the way you have them.

Alex

[Maria Nemchuk]

Well ... I know for sure Rui came a long way since posting this two years ago His latest stuff is great!

[Allan Rahbek]

Hi Rui,

I must agree that this is not an easy reference photo to use. I think you have to invent some shadow areas to emphasize the 3D forms.

You could make a broad contour along the coat, starting from her right cheek and down to the button of the painting, indicating that the light comes from a point a little more left than it actually does.

Likewise you could adjust the shadow areas on her left cheek and under the nose.

You will see what works. It does not need to be much to work.

Allan

[Rui Manuel]

Hi all, and thank you so much for your words on this painting.

Well, actually I think this was my very first portrait ever painted, two years ago. This doesnt mean that I am much better now, but I did some improvement.

Thanks again for your time!
My best regards,
Rui.

[Alexandra Tyng]

Oh, that is too funny! Sorry, Rui, it was typical of absentminded me not to check the date of the original post, just the last one!

[Rui Manuel]

Thanks for your words, Alexandra !

See you around!
Rui.