Thank you ladies,

You are all giving me more confidence.

HI Tricia,

So very successful! Congratulations. I think your composition is wonderful, and you have resolved the odd shapes from the source photo,so that your values are well-massed, and there is a visual flow that works beautifully, too.
So do we all. That's what keeps the excitement in painting - there's always more to learn.

You might find yourself becoming more fluid and free. I seem to be going much slower. I don't think there's a right or wrong, just what works for you.

Tricia-- Congratulations!
This turned out so beautifully! The interaction between mother and baby is so sensitively done. Your work is just getting better and better all the time! :) :thumbsup:

Trica,

There are many different ways to judge a painting as successful; good composition, technique, edges, brushwork, etc. and you have certainly succeeded on all accounts. But I think that the most important thing is the emotion you evoke in the viewer. I was brought to tears remembering that intimate moment with my children ,who are now grown. What a tender memory. Thank you for touching my heart.
Just beatifully done!!

Cynthia

Tricia,

This is lovely in every way.

The things I like best are the baby's head and hair and the background color. This background color is really good. I saw the reference photos and don't remember seeing this color (my memory isn't always trustworthy). How did you come up with it?

And I love the new take on an age-old subject. Seeing this kind of work reminds me that no matter how much our species progresses, what really matters to us is truly eternal.

Thank you all.

I am really delighted with the response to this.

Hi Brenda,

Originally I had the background blue, but I remebered that a background should be warm, (according to David Leffel) so I just played with the creamy green, and found that it complemented the soft skin tones.

I did do a blue background on the attached portrait. I think it worked ok because I used sepia tones to the skin, so the blue complimented.
Do you agree.?

I am still figuring why some backgrounds work & others don't.

Tricia,

I like the background color in this one too. Possibly a a deep reddish would have worked for this also? The contrast in color works, though, and I think it's good that it's dark.

I am still learning about backgrounds too. I don't always know what works, but I know what I like!

There seems to be a great difference in style between this one and the Mother and Child, or maybe it's the difference in mood that is giving me that impression. How long ago did you do this one?

I did this one in March this year. It was from a B&W photo, so I didn't try working in warms & cools.

I don't really have a style yet. I just try different things, and they either work, or they don't.

I am still fumbling in the dark. Feedback helps me to understand what works and what doesn't. I find the negative feedback the most helpful.