Mother & Child
 

Oil on canvas glued to board.
20" x 24"
(51cm x 61cm)

Please be picky, I want to improve.

Thanks for looking. ;)

I cannot critique a simply beautiful portrait. I find it to be refreshingly tender and extremely well painted. It's awesome in so many ways. First, I think the composition is without flaw as I keep looking between the face of the mother and the face of the child. I love that. Also, your skin tones are subtle and soft which is perfect for your subject matter.

You have put a present day feel to an age old relationship. I really like it. Can you tell?

Care to share your palette?

Also, I only see one image. Can you post a close-up or two?

Tricia,
This is a beautiful and intimate piece. Thank you for sharing.
Jerome

Tricia,

This came out absolutely beautiful. It is your best work to date. Your edges are soft where they should be and more concrete where they should be.

You have improved so much! You should be very proud of yourself. Keep on going girl - Im looking forward to seeing where you head next.

Thank you Lisa, Garth & Kim.

Lisa, my palette is made up of the following:

Old Holland
Warm sepia Extra
Brown Ochre light
Yellow Ochre dark
Ultra blue dark
Venetian Red
Cremintz white.
My greens & mauves are made from this also.

I used Sennellier Blue Black for the dress.
and added some cad yellow into the background.

I will try & take some closeups in the morning.
I am learning not to try to take photos in the afternoon - they are simply not sharp enough.

In the meantime, here is one I took yesterday that isn't too bad.
Let me know if there is anything special you would like to see a close up of.

Thank you again for your kind encouragement.

Wow, that is magnificent! Thank you so much for sharing your palette as well. It certainly works.

I would love to see a close up of the texture of your paint, say on the mother's face or arms? Thanks so much!

Here's a couple, Lisa.

I took them tonight as I am heading out of town for a day or two tomorrow.

I have not reached that stage where you could say "nice paint".
I simply struggle along until i reach a place where I can do no better.

One day I would like to be fluid & free - but right now I am slow & plodding. ;)

Beautiful
 

I just love this painting, Tricia. The composition is wonderful and there is so much tenderness and love emanating from the work.

Terrific! :thumbsup:

Beautiful Work
 

Tricia, your choice of subject matter is one of the most endearing for me. I love it, the composition, brushwork, skin tones, ... and everything about it.

I love this too, Tricia. Your color harmonies are perfect for this intimate painting and the way you've handled the skin transitions from light to shadow is excellent. REALLY a super job.

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.