WIP Commission

[Mike McCarty]

Patricia:

I think that after you leave the faces you should abandon whatever you are fretting over in the photo. As Julie said, you should indicate some plausable neckline with simple tailing lines holding short of the edge of the canvas. Also, I wouldn't try and introduce a dark color below the face. To me the girl on the right reads well enough with the line coming up tight on her neck. Just make some indication with a brief extention of that line.

You have a couple of great faces going so far, let them do the work and offer just the minimum supporting information. Make it plausable, then make it yours.

Best of luck.

[Patricia Joyce]

Thank you Mischa and Mike,
Your suggestions are just what I wanted to read, as I have been really stressing over what to do! BTW the client has seen the WIP and she absolutely can't wait till I am finished. She loves it so far, let's hope I finish well!

Thanks you again
Patty

[Ngaire Winwood]

Patricia

Great job so far, you will have very satisfied clients I am sure. It could even trickle to more work when they spread your word around.

Misha, you is the artist?

[Patricia Joyce]

Thank you Ngaire,
I actually have another double portrait commission which came out of this WIP, and then I have one I just received from my little portfolio (always keep it with me, and this client is a waitress where I eat breakfast on Saturdays). But the "funny" thing is that I worked on the second girl in this portrait this past weekend and in the end set the whole drawing aside and began again!!! AAAGGGHHH. I once received great advice from Marvin Mattelson. Basically he said, do not get so attached to your work, the hours you put into a piece, that you cannot start again. Sometimes you have to do a work over and over to get it to a point where you are proud to have it "out there" for the world to see.

It was very disheartening to start again, but I am pretty happy with the new drawing and hope to finish it this week or next...trying not to feel the pressure of two commissions in the wings!
Thank you again
Patty