Self-portrait

Judson Eneas · 05-16-2006, 02:45 PM

This is an outstanding portrait. It's much better than what I can do. Perhaps you need a little bit more warm colors in your portrait. Maybe if you had taken a better photograph of your painting it would look better online.

Marina Dieul · 05-16-2006, 03:49 PM

Ilaria,
Thank you for pointing things like the neck and the hair, I think I knew I had to work more on it but ( laziness, lack of interrest ?) didn't really want to hear it. Now ,I have no choice...

I realised that, when I began this, it was totally enough if I could obtain a well executed painting, so it was a sort of revelation when you told me to push myself into unknown territories. It sounds evident to me now that I have to make a try. If I don't do it on this piece, when will I do?
Good luck in your unknown territories, I hope you will show the result: I always love your color harmonies.
( the phaidon book is on my birthday list )

Linda,
maybe I moved too quickly from drawing to painting ( from life), my drawing becomes accurate after spending hours and hours on it.
When I painted this, there was a moment where there was nice brush strokes, and nice colors, but not exactly at the right place, or the right value. I worked again hours on it , and lost this freshness, to obtain the exact likeness I wanted ( almost).
I work at the only place at home where I can do this : I have a window on my left ( south-west: I had to work on the mornings, and the cloudy afternoons. I was the only one who was happy when we had a rainy day!) And I have another small window far back on my right.
Thank you for your nice words.

I'm going to write more later, baby finished sleeping too early.

Marina Dieul · 05-16-2006, 10:15 PM

Alex,
I agree with edges. anyway, I'm going to try something looser and thicker ( I like those words) I'm sure that in one or two hundred more paintings it will come naturally ...
Oh. I'm SOOOO happy to know that I have an interesting bone structure, nobody told me that before!

Hi Mary Jane,
in fact, my idea was to give a 18th century feeling, but it sounds that it's more 19th century finally. It's OK, Ingres is one of my heros.

I'm going to check the details you pointed, and certainly you will see the result.
Thank you for taking the time to comment.

Sharon,
thank you. I think I'm going to print all those suggestions to be sure that I don't forget something...
I wanted to make a quick small study before, but finally spent 6 or 7 hours on it before I decide it was too much for a "quick" study. And finally, as it was a very sunny day, it didn't help me at all for the colors.
I'm not sure exactly what a color study should be like. Someone could post one exemple, please? I understand the concept, but a picture would be helpful to visualize it...

Judson,
I know the photo have some glare ( I just oiled it out because lots of earth colors sunk) I did my best to minimized it.
thanks for the comment.

Alexandra Tyng · 05-16-2006, 10:56 PM

Marina,

If you want to see some examples of color studies, I've posted two examples on this forum. Here are the links:

http://forum.portraitartist.com/showthread.php?t=6111

http://forum.portraitartist.com/showthread.php?t=6260

They usually take me about 40-45 minutes, but if you are less impatient and more meticulous than I, then you might want to take a couple of hours.The exact time doesn't matter.

Mary Jane Ansell · 05-17-2006, 08:04 AM

Quote:

in fact, my idea was to give a 18th century feeling, but it sounds that it's more 19th century finally. It's OK, Ingres is one of my heros.

Hi Marina

I kept thinking about this yesterday and realised it was a Vigee Le Brun your expression reminded me of most...

http://www.batguano.com/VLBSP1782.jpg

I saw the original recently and was struck with the same sense of her warmth... funnily as I was looking for this reproduction I noticed she found some interesting ways to deal with the problem of joining head to neck! :-)

http://www.batguano.com/mcritt.jpg

Marina Dieul · 05-19-2006, 12:50 PM

Thanks Alex!
I was interrested to see your nice exemples...

Mary Jane,
finally, a bit more 18th century?
I always loved how Mme Vig

Alexandra Tyng · 05-20-2006, 01:15 PM

Marina, your changes are subtle but they make a significant difference. It's a lovely self-portrait. My feeling is that you should move on to the next painting now, to avoid overworking this. Making quicker oil studies would be an excellent exercise. In fact, any painting from life, including 2-hour landscape sketches, would be helpful. Start thin, cover the canvas, and then try to get the essence of what you see. If you push yourself in this direction, I think you will find that you naturally have to use more paint and not fuss over details.

Alex

Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco · 05-20-2006, 01:46 PM

Marina, I absolutely second Alex's advice.
In this work you have solved the problems we have pointed out, but I have a strong sensation that you are ready to take the leap and start buttering your canvas in paint, now that you have showed to yourself and to all of us how solid is your drawing background.

If you have a chance to add to your gift list I would recommend the new book on Sorolla, a luscious paint handler.
Indicating form with only a stroke of the brush is the ultimate experience for a painter!
Well done for this work anyway, I think I'll chuck mine and start again, I became really depressed about its potential and I want to try a very limited earth palette!
Ilaria

Marina Dieul · 05-23-2006, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexandra Tyng

My feeling is that you should move on to the next painting now, to avoid overworking this. Making quicker oil studies would be an excellent exercise.

Alex

Alex
Great! That's exactly what I was thinking!
I still have lot of things to learn, but I especially need some practice. So, if everybody agrees, I'm planning a few more self-portraits ( Mme Vig