First lay in of color

Alexandra Tyng · 03-08-2008, 03:11 PM

Patty, can you post a closeup of the reference photo and even an extreme closeup of just the boy's face, even if it is blurry? This might help with generating some suggestions.

Sometimes if I have to work from bad references I enlarge them a lot even if they are not detailed. It helps to look at a very large image to see how I might interpret the information that I have.

I'm wondering what the client expects. I think that even with little detail you can make a successful figurative piece with painterly touches of color and light. Maybe this would be fine with your client. But next time, you might want to think out the size relevant to the information in the photo, and talk to the clients beforehand.

Patricia Joyce · 03-08-2008, 06:02 PM

Thank you for your comments, Alex. It does help to look at it close up, even though it is poor quality. I know that the parents are not expecting a portrait. I do, however, want to capture enough of a likeness that they know it is their son. I think I have that, but am afraid to take it to the next level...

Here is a close up of the pic and here is also the painting so far. I have worked on the sky, sea, wave, a bit of the foreground. Am now working on their hair and am beginning to go into their skin/clothes before I work on the shadow and reflection. I would love your input, or anyone who wants to put in their critique!

Thank you for looking
Patty

Patricia Joyce · 03-08-2008, 06:05 PM

here is a closeup of the kids. Looking at it I now wish I had focused on jus the kids, but then, the parents wanted the whole scene, so I guess I did not have a choice. I still feel that the sky and sea do not look like the right time of day. I do plan on heightening the wave to our right, just haven't gotten there yet.

Allan Rahbek · 03-09-2008, 07:54 AM

Patty,
I have tried to remove some scratches to get a cleaner look at the face and sharpened a bit, hope that it helps.

About the shadow, remember that the blue is mostly in the direct reflection from the sky, so therefore the darkest shadow, where they sit, is warmer because of the sand color and the shadow at the left is mostly light blue because of the sky. It is that simple

Patricia Joyce · 03-09-2008, 03:49 PM

Thanks, Allan.
I am stopping for a break and I am feeling lost like I am not doing anything right anymore. Maybe I can come back to it later this afternoon, but I dont' want to ruin it. To me, at this stage it looks very blah. I know the reflections of three kids is not in and the foam defing the laps of water will help. Do you feel i have flattened it all out? I still have detail to build on the children too, but I owuld love more suggestions.

I know I am being real needy, never have depended on the critique section this much. thanks for looking...

Patty

Debra Norton · 03-10-2008, 12:57 PM

Patty, don't get discouraged! Remember, it's like eating an elephant, the only way to do it is one bite at a time! I think it's coming along fine, it's just not finished. Keep your finished picture in mind and work towards it.

It doesn't look flat to me. About recognition, I would keep in mind bone structure, and body language or gesture, that's what we see first from a distance. I think you're doing well in this area. So I guess all I really have to say is you're coming along fine, keep working and you'll get it.

Allan Rahbek · 03-10-2008, 01:40 PM

Patty,
I think that you are doing fine with the figures, but I suggest that you get the values and colors of the seascape right before investing too much work in the figures. You will see that the figures are a piece of cake for you once you get the values of the sea right.

The sea / water is like a mirror, it is light because it reflects the light coming from above. The foreground is as light as the background. You have to lighten the foreground value.
Paint the foreground in a sandcolor and gradually add some light blue untill you are out where the wave break, make it a gradual slide towards the light blue of the sea and paint the waves, foam and small nuances when you have the gradual foundation right, right.

The seascape is very light and the figures are both darker and lighter than the seascape and that is why I suggest that you fix the water first.

Patricia Joyce · 03-10-2008, 06:15 PM

"The sea / water is like a mirror, it is light because it reflects the light coming from above. The foreground is as light as the background"

Allan, are you saying that the foreground should be as light as the background? So the sand should be the same value as the horizon? This should be a "light bulb" moment, but it is not!!! However, I do trust your advice, but I want to make sure I understand...

Here is where I finished off yesterday.

Thank you Debra and Allan so much,
Patty

Carol Norton · 03-10-2008, 11:19 PM

I know I am being real "needy," never have depended on the critique section this much. thanks for looking...

Patty[/QUOTE]

Patty, your "needs" here are beneficial steps for everyone looking and learning. You are serving as an instructor even though you, yourself, are asking for help. I thank you for your honesty and humility as asking questions is the state of mind of a ready learner. Your painting is already beautiful.

Patricia Joyce · 03-11-2008, 08:48 AM

Allan,
I think I finally get it, thanks. Now I am looking forward to going back into it this weekend! You are so helpful.

Carol,
Thank you for your kind remarks, they are encouraging as well. It is our nature, as portrait artists, to be perfectionists, which I am used to in my drawing. Learning to paint propels me back to the all encompassing student, and yes, that is a good thing. I cannot find an artist in Cleveland I want to study with or take classes from so I do depend on the forum. I am happy to know that others are benefiting from my learning process.

I sooo apreciate your compliment. I have become blind to whether this is a decent painting in process or not....
Patty