Barefoot Contessa
 

This is the beginning of a large (36 X 48) commission and I need blunt, honest feedback before I proceed to color. Comments on likeness, values, composition, or anything else you notice.

Thanking you in advance,
Renee Price

Here is one of the resource photos I used for this painting. If you notice, the eyes and bottom of the dress are different from the photo.
Renee

Here is the detail of the face. Again, check for likeness, values, ect.
Thanks,
Renee

Criticism is not my forte but I will give you what I can. You have obviously committed yourself to this project. As far as the composition, the scene which you have created (outdoors, wide open, gone with the wind) seems better than the reality of the photo. But even with the vertical aspects of the (in town) bar added (which I think would be needed to explain) the lady and the bar seem a little incongruous. Possibly a picket fence would be more in keeping with the mood you have created. It's a little late for this suggestion but straightening up her posture, and showing her as just standing indoors (arms out as shown) with a simple background, that might have looked nice.

Show your painting to someone without the photo and see if they can explain the scene to you.

I look forward to other folks suggestions. I can appreciate that the pressure can be great...good luck with this.

This whole painting is a real attention grabber and I want to know more about it. Why this pose for this person...does it tell a story? (i.e., Juliet waiting for Romeo).

I like what you did with the sky behind the figure. It has a lot of strength and gives this an archetypical look.

Technically the railing does not explain itself and the bottom of the dress is not as believeable as the upper part.

The reference photo has the right side of the skirt "flipped up" a little. That might be a good design detail to add to break up the huge amount of endless material shown at the bottom of the painting. This is a design challenge and you need to devise something....

Also, you will need to lower the value of the "shadows" on the left side of the face. The left side of the face is in the light and you have broken up your light and made it much too dark.

Be more clear about light and shadow overall.

Renee, I'm no critic but I have a suggestion for a relatively quick fix. My first impression of the drawing with the rail is "at sea" Perhaps additional railing could be added to give the illusion of the bow of a ship. You may need to add a few "ship like" additions, but if you place her on the bow (or stern) you wouldn't loose all of your wonderful sky.;)

Excellent start! I think the bar makes for too strong a horizontal in the composition, breaking the painting into two halves. also without its vertical supports it looks a bit like a ballet barre, maybe you could incorporate some other features give the bar more sense.

Thank you Karin, Sandy, and Catherine for your comments! I plan to fiddle with the left side of her face before proceeding to color. I agree with the suggestion about her standing on the bow (or stern) of a ship. I debated about how to handle the background because I didn't want to use the backgrounds in any of the photos I took of her. Any suggestions on making this "look" more like the deck of a ship? (Oh, the bar will be gold tone, not black).

About the person and pose. This woman is a close friend of mine and I wanted a pose that fit her personality. She is dramatic, flirtatious, and vunerable. I believe this pose depicts those qualities in her.

Renee Price

I'm sorry Mike! Thank you, too for your comments! :sunnysmil

Renee

How about a life preserver coming in from one side? A capstand with a bell might do as well. Coiled rope, the sea swelling up on one side or the other, a life boat, sea birds....you get the idea.

Put her in a life preserver? HAHA! But I digress. :sunnysmil