Struggled with posthumous portrait

[Julie Deane]

Hi Debra,

It's always awkward when a work doesn't meet with enthusiasm.
I think the primary thing the recipient is looking for in a portrait, especially a posthumous one, is a good likeness. If the reaction was negative, that would actually be the first thing to reconsider.

You might look at sample portraits on the SOG commercial part of this web site, and compare your work to similar subjects, noting the differences in color and composition.

Best wishes as you progress in portraiture.

[Richard Bingham]

Originally Posted by Julie Deane

. . . the primary thing the recipient is looking for in a portrait, especially a posthumous one, is a good likeness . . .

I agree entirely. A portraitist's inability to convey that ineffable "certain something" about Uncle George's twinkling eyes is usually at the crux of client dissatisfaction.

Every human being has at least 1,000 faces. Only one do they present to you when "sitting". Recognition of the persons we know is based on far more than the arrangement and proportions of facial features. Complexities and nuances multiply geometrically the more intimate the viewers' relationships are with the subject.

In my opinion, a posthumous portrait is, bar none, the very toughest assignment a portaitist can accept, and many very able, well-known professionals decline to do them at all, as the problem is more akin to what comprises police witness sketches than the portrayal of living subjects.

How well did you know the deceased? Possibly a function of working from a reference photo, the painting seems to be as much about the fish as it is about the man.

I'd be gratified to read members' thoughts as to what , indeed, comprises "likeness".

[Mary Cupp]

I agree. It strikes me that the face lacks some enthusiasm or expression. It may well be that the photo that you are working from simply doesn't have enough information to capture a sense of the inner life of the subject. I find that the paintings that I have the most problems with are those caused by a less than adequate photo reference. Does the wife have any more photos available that might provide other aspects of the subjects face?

Pay close attention to the small muscle tension around the eyes and mouth. This is where expression originates.