Sheeba

Alexandra Tyng · 08-30-2005, 08:41 PM

Lisa, this is even better than the last, I think, and the last one of her was breathtaking. This has a completely different quality. The two of them together would be an interesting diptych. This one fascinates me because her eyes are looking towards the shadow at something, not just staring into space, and she is amused by whatever (whoever) she's focused on. I love the mouth! And the sari is beautifully done, but you've captured that living quality in the face, without which no amount of sari detail would carry the portrait.

What does she think of the two portraits?

Alex

Elizabeth Schott · 08-30-2005, 09:15 PM

Lisa what a lovely refreshing break after the three business guys!

I can see why she is your favorite and the fabric is wonderful. Another winner.

Lisa Ober · 08-31-2005, 02:36 AM

Hi again!

Claudemir, thank you so much. You are always so supportive. I hope you still like it after the major background adjustment.

Molly, I assure you that if you wanted you could certainly get stuck in the little details like I do but you are smarter than that. It's a compulsion. A sickness. A disease. Thanks though! It's nice to know the compulsion has a positive effect somewhere.

I think she did tell me this was one of her bridal saris. I think she had 3 of them! I wish I could paint her in all of them. They are the most elegant item of clothing I think. She had one that was white and was gorgeous. It weighed a ton and was heavy fabric. I don't know how she could stand it but boy was it beautiful. Now I am thinking I will ask her to model it too. I must be nuts.

Alexandra, whoa! You said so many nice things I wish I knew of a better way to say thank you than "thank you." Thank you-but I really mean it.

Sheeba is quite soft spoken and shy. She is kind beyond words. She is selfless and hard working. I really admire her. She is also quite naive but smart if that makes sense. I think this one represents her better than the last one that I did in pastel. I missed painting her eyes looking at the viewer but it is more like her. She was very complimentary about the first one but I think it was hard for her to say she liked a picture of herself. She hasn't seen the second one. I think she will like the softer background more so I am glad I changed it before showing her. Thank you again for your comments.

Elizabeth, thanks! Not to sound ungrateful for the corporate commission, but I much prefer this type of portrait. It certainly was a refreshing change of pace...twice, now that I have seen two different backgrounds on it. I do like painting her. She has a subtle beauty I think.

Here is a close up of the entire face. The other day I couldn't get a good photo because of glare.

Kimberly Dow · 08-31-2005, 07:58 AM

Lisa,

This is absolutely lovely.

Im glad to see Im not the only one to change my mind about backgrouns.

Chris Saper · 08-31-2005, 09:47 AM

Very lovely, Lisa. The background change was an excellent move.

When you changed the background, did you need to a lot of adjustment to the skin tones?

Congratulations!

Lisa Ober · 08-31-2005, 10:23 AM

Kim, I immediately thought of you when I started to change it! I remember thinking I would never go to the trouble of changing a background when I saw your last thread but lo and behold, that was a famous last thought.

Claudemir, thanks. I'm relieved. It's certainly more subtle.

Patricia, wow, I appreciate that! I was very happy with the skin tones so hearing that makes me feel good. By all means, drop on by. I would love to meet you. Should I put the coffee on now?

You know, this one is my first experiment with glazing/scumbling (I'm still working on the true definitions of each). Except for the little bit more drying time it didn't take that long. I did an underpainting which I never have done, followed by a few layers for color. The underpainting made adding color insanely easy. I probably have a good full day of work into it but it came in stages over a few days. I LOVED this method. It really fits my natural tendencies to pick away at details, etc.

I'm not sure I am soaring but my great prayer is that I continually improve even if it's like taking one step backward and then two steps forward. I want my growth chart to look like a good year for the stock market.

Chris, great question! That was at the top of my list. I worried more about that than anything else since I didn't want to rework the face. I had a decent likeness and feared losing it. Reworking it too much made me nervous. This one was an excellent mini-lesson in color theory. I had to think about what I was going to put on there. I don't know how well it shows, but the background has a lot of (albeit toned down) warm orange-ish/reddish color in it even though it reads as a pale green in general. Putting that in prevented me from causing Sheeba to turn orange. It was shocking to see the results. I put the two photos together and was stunned at how different the backgrounds affected the skin. I was amazed to see that her overall skin tone continued to read the same way. I really think the orange addition (though subtle) did the trick. I had trouble photographing the first version as the background kept throwing it off but the second version is quite accurate. I think the skin tones look pretty natural in spite of the change. I never would have guessed it. I was sure I was going to have to entirely re-work the face but as it turned out I didn't. Great question.

Lisa Ober · 08-31-2005, 10:25 AM

Darn it, Chris, I was so excited by your color theory question I forgot to thank you for the compliment. Thank you very much. Your words mean a lot to me. You inspire me.

Enzie Shahmiri · 09-04-2005, 11:00 AM

Lisa, this is just stunning. I love your skin tones and the sari is just beautiful. I would submit this to many competitions, because it's definately a show stopper.

Lisa Ober · 09-04-2005, 04:52 PM

Hi Henry! Well if that isn't one of the nicest things you could possibly say, I don't know aht is but I woul dlike to find out some day! Thanks so much.

Enzie, goodness, thanks. I think I have said before that I have never entered a competition in my whole life. I would like to do it but it makes me a little nervous. You are very nice to suggest it. I just may give it a shot soon. Thank you again. I am happy you like the painting.

Garth Herrick · 09-04-2005, 06:57 PM

Whoa, Lisa! This is tooo goood! Every other compliment has been used already, and I 1,000% agree with everyone's accolades.

Enter this one in some competitions. You have just today, Labor Day and Tuesday left for the....

Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery Competition

......deadline, if you have not already entered (I just completed my entry submission). You may enter one work only. Do it!!!!!!

Anyway, how do you so lovingly render oil paints as though you were using pastels? I had to keep double checking that this is an oil. Those details are gorgeous!

Garth