Eve
 

Hello

Here is my painting of Eve (http://forum.portraitartist.com/showthread.php?t=6115)

This one is 24*30 cm (9.4" * 11.8") on panel.
My 2nd attempt and as you can see is a mix of the last ref. pictures and nr. 2. (the rotated)

My first using of Marvin's flesh palette. I can only say it works simple and speedy. (not regarding the fact Im still a greenhorn)

Thanks for viewing and ready for any comments too. :)

btw: not the best shot but colors are okay.

bye!

Hi Leslie,

This is a beautiful portrait, nice varied edges, good values and a smashing color scale.
However I think that you could improve the drawing, especially the angles between the planes of the head.

I am sure you will understand if you study the lines I made even though I am not sure if I picked the right reference photo ?

Good work, Allan

Thank you Allan !

Drawing, Basics.. still a trouble.
Upps I was wrong with preference photo. This one was even not posted...
silly me.Sorry, here is the head and the other one was using only for the neck. Anyway, youre still right it is off.

bye

Eve
 

I see some blues on the shadow side of her face. Can you consider putting those in?

Hi Judson
No, she's wearing on the other photo pinkish or peachy t-shirt, so I've choosen this variant for painting shirt and for reflected light color.

Well.. on the screen just found some flaws.. I'll go to repair it. My freehand style isnt so developed as expected.. :thumbsdow :(

Leslie, the eyes turned out really nice and I hope you correct the drawing as well to make it look super. Since you are using Marvin's palette, you will find that matching the skin tones after having to move something, is easier than ever.

If the color here is close to the painting then I would suggest you examine the skin again. As the forehead turnes towards the viewer next to the highlight is a small section of Terra Rosa Value 8. This is the area immediately over the nose. Scumble this high intensity color to make that area come forward more.

I see you had lightened the area right above her left eye and darkened it again. Look at the shape and mix a bit of grey into the color you used there. That will make it recede without looking dark.

There is a high intensity color right below her right eye, which needs to get toned out. Remember high intensity colors come forward, but that side needs to go back in space.

You could use Terra Rosa Value 8 under the cheek of her left eye. Again scumble to bring that cheek area forward and make it look more lively.

Now to the neck. In her right side I see Indian Red Value 8 greyed down followed by Terra Rosa Value 9 pure, followed by Indian Red Value 8 greyed down.

Please take the Value numbers just as a hint in what neighborhood to pick your color mix from, before choosing to apply it to the painting. Remember I am not looking at the original and am going by what I see on my monitor.

How I miss Marvin's instruction on this forum! He would walk you through it with dead on instruction.

Hi Enzie
Thank you for your detailed analyse!

(The others should know that the using this palette was initiated by Enzie and her workshop at Marvin)

Well, Im not sure turn all drawings flaws to the right... I gave my best.
You're right, I've scumbled a lot and repaint many areas. For me is this normal, since I still paint --as you would say : hit and miss.. making some steps forward indeed (I hope so) and will try to work after a system.

Here is the new stand:
I'm still afraid to make bigger changes.. knowing myself it will be ended at "one more ruined painting" :)

(first is deleted, for making some space to my account..)

It is looking much better Leslie. See how the neck took form, by just doing that slight adjustment.

Never be afraid of ruining a painting, because that becomes a roadblock on your route to mastering a better technique.
My mom was after me for a real long time to repaint a painting that hangs in my house, saying it was sooo orange. She is of course right, but I told her that I will keep it just the way it is to remind of how far I have come in trying to become better. When I compare those skin tones to the ones I am doing now, it is rewarding to see that no time has been wasted.

You are on the right track and don't get frustrated. You will see that with Marvin's approach ( if followed step by step) a lot of the frustration can be eliminated.

Keep up the good work!

I know. I've only scruple if it better than usually.. I've made a new photo after changing some shapes.
Many thanks for helping!

bye.

Well, I've struggled a while with it. Following the tips of you and rebuilded entire features for more likeness. Am I still on the right track? :?

Hi Leslie, it's going very well. Now remember, I am going to be very picky here and my only intent is to push you just a tad further.

The hair looks great. You got her right side fuzzier, thus pushing that side back-nicely done. Left side looks ok, but I would play up the strands closest to the lock of hair on her forehead. Imagine a ball, the light diffuses as it turns with the form.

Look for highlights on the hair on her forhead. You already have it, but it could benefit from more intensity. Try Yellow Ochre Pale maybe with a tad white value 9-10.



Ear has a nice shape, eyes look great. Cheeks are very well formed-nice job!

Area right above her left eye. There is a thin brown line, which needs to be that greyed down skin tone . You did it correct on her right side. This is more a cosmetic fix.

Eyelid her left side is too chromatic. Start adjusting eyelid towards nose by greying it down, do the same under the brow and then adjust the center accordingly. The eyelid sits on top of the eyeball like a glove. SO remember from dark to light to dark.

Lips are tough to do, because the skin there goes in and out an awful lot. Look at the model and hunt down the neutral shapes. Her upper lip is much more neutral then her lower lip and only has a high chroma in the mid section. The dark line on both sides of her mouth are too thick. Use a tiny brush and try ightening with a value 3 Terra Rosa. Remember I am trying to put you in the neighborhood of color-you have to be the judge if it is correct. Feather her right side and only have the left be a slightly sharper line.

Same goes for the shadow between lower lip and chin. It is way too dark. Remember flesh has no lines. Leave the line and go over it with a neutral lighter tone to take the edge and darkness off. Scumble it towards her left chin to make the shadow diffuse slowly as it enlopes the chin.

Now something I have learned in Marvin's class: Use some of that Orange of her cloth and look where it gets reflected into the skin Make sure to test, it might be too chromatic and might need to be toned down a tad. Scumble it in usually under the chin, under the lip and under the nose (anywhere were something projects out of the face and could catch a reflection. It makes everything pop even more.

This is turning out really nice and you should be very proud!

Thank you!

Okay, a new version, now hairs with more highlight. Shapes of the eyes repainted. some shadows etc.
Mouth.. I think its better, but still weak...

Leslie, it's looking great!

Are you up to more nit picking? The highlight on her hair on the forehead is great. The only place that still looks a bit flat in the hair is on the side of the head. Again based on what I am seeing on the monitor just check and make sure that there is a subtle value change going on before it gets real dark. If the greyisch looking strand of hair on the top of her head is a value 4, scumble a bit of value 3 or 2 a bit further down before going to value 1 Burnt Umber. You might already have it there, it's just that I don't see it on my monitor.

The only thing that sticks out, is her left upper lip.The very top needs to be more neutral (by a millimeter) and the very bottom a tad darker and greyed down as well. Get rid of that line that seem to seperate the left side from the right side of the upper lip.

Your head has great form and the value changes are nicely done. Overall for future reference, lesson the degree of sharp lines. I make the same mistake and have to constanly remind myself that there are very few areas that actually show up as a line in a painting.

This painting has turned out very nice and shows a world of improvement over your last work. I hope that Marvin's pallette was as easy to work with as I promised. I think you will agree that there are no more blotchy areas, but subtle value changes!

Congratulations, you did a great job!

Sure, but I cannot change now, because I'll go on vacation.

Thanks for your very detailed help, now I understand better and better how one should see the whole process.