Christiane und Laura

[Richard Budig]

I paint fallen soldiers for families, so I do a lot of work from photos since my subjects are no longer here. Working from photos is very difficult for reasons mentioned in the comments, above. One thing that seems to help me is to enlarge the head to around 8 inches (more or less), and place it several feet away. It isn't perfect, but accomplishes some of the things previously mentioned in this thread . . . softens contrast, generalizes. I also scan in the photos from which I'm working and tweak them in Photoshop. It's not perfect by any means, but it helps make it look less photolike.

[Eva Alberternst]

Alexandra, thanks a lot for your valuable comments.

You may be right, that the likness can be captured by a very accurate "drawing" right at the beginning. I am struggling with the likness during the whole painting process. Perhaps its better now to do a lot drawing portraits from life. I have just not enough trained it.

I think varying the skin color will change a lot. Thank you! So, is it right, that the camera, while making a picture, indeed does unify the motiv?

[Eva Alberternst]

Thank you, Richard, for delivering an insight into your working process!