Seated Nude Painting Self

[Dave McKnight]

Originally Posted by Linda Brandon

I like this very much, David, but (since this is in critiques) I'm wondering if you could lose the roll of paper towels on the left side.

Have you tried working in daylight, or does your daily schedule not permit it? I really believe that skin looks best in diffuse indoor daylight from a single high light source. Of course you might not believe in the concept of putting yourself in the best possible lighting condition, but when I paint a self portrait I sure give myself all the help I can get.

Thanks Linda,

So the towels distract? I wasn't sure about that element, myself. I was thinking it helped block an exit from the canvas but perhaps it's pulling eyes away from the subject. In my next session, they will likely have moved anyway, so I'd consider killing it.

For this painting, I'm not really after naturalistic skin tones - I'm more interested in being faithful to the lightling environment I happen to paint in, however flawed that might be. For other work, I would love to paint in daylight but I'm at work on weekdays, while evenings and weekends I'm usually preoccupied with the kids. My chance for painting is confined to late at night.

Dave

[Julie Deane]

Hi -

Nice work! I noticed the warm tones too, and just have to put my two cents in about a good daylight type flourescent light bulb,

Go to: http://www.1000bulbs.com/

The product no. is FC42/S65

It's really made a difference for me (thanks, Kim Dow, for recommending the site!).

[Kimberly Dow]

Nicely done Dave! I think the entire composition is clever.

I do agree with Linda about the paper towels.

Julie, I have virtually no memory - if I recommended that site I have forgotten. But I am glad you posted it since I need some bulbs - Im going to go check it out right now!

[Michele Rushworth]

These are the same ones I use -- they're excellent and are much closer to natural daylight color than anything else I've seen.

[Dave McKnight]

Originally Posted by Kimberly Dow

Nicely done Dave! I think the entire composition is clever.

I do agree with Linda about the paper towels.

Julie, I have virtually no memory - if I recommended that site I have forgotten. But I am glad you posted it since I need some bulbs - Im going to go check it out right now!

Thanks, Kimberly. It's taken me a couple days to fully realise how distracting those towels are. I'll make sure I correct that when I'm back at it.

Dave

[Dave McKnight]

Originally Posted by Julie Deane

Hi -

Nice work! I noticed the warm tones too, and just have to put my two cents in about a good daylight type flourescent light bulb,

Go to: http://www.1000bulbs.com/

The product no. is FC42/S65

It's really made a difference for me (thanks, Kim Dow, for recommending the site!).

Thanks for the link, Julie. I've bookmarked that site so I can investigate later. How many of these bulbs does it take to give you bright enough environment? I wonder how the different types of daylight bulbs compare to one another.

Dave