Cris, wip
 

Hello,

This is a work-in-progress of a beautiful young lady named Cris. I am still a beginer with pastels and don't have a very large inventory, and of course don't have just the right color! But, I am doing my best to make it work for me.

I would like to end up with a vignette. There's still a bit more hair to be included, especially some over part of the unfinished neck area, but I am wondering if I should put in just a couple strokes to indicate a shirt or not.

Any and all help welcome!

Lacey,
This is turning out really well. Very strong piece. I like the attitude!! Keep going!
Pat

Very nice, Lacey! I can only imagine what you will do with a full palette!

How about a hint of shoulder on her right (our left)? I'm thinking just a line might be enough - just enought to give our brains something to fill in missing information. I don't recommend showing the other shoulder - the one that's lifted up. Glad you didn't include it.

Have you considered softening the line of her cheek a little to help it recede?

Thanks Pat and Julie!

I will do a little experimenting in photoshop with the arm. I know her shoulders are at too much of an angle to really include them both, but I haven't thought about how it would look to hint at only one! Sounds like it might be a good idea.

Good point on the cheek, too (the far one, right?). I'll put that on my list.

Luscious!
 

This is beautiful, Lacey!

I also like your idea of a couple of strokes to suggest a shirt. I am always amazed at how well that works in pastel. It looks so cool in a vignette.

I'm really looking forward to watching your progress on this!

A remarkable piece of work!
 

I can say it twice, but i can't express enough how wonderfully done this piece is! :sunnysmil

Blush-fest
 

Wow, I am seriously taken aback by the compliments this work is getting! :cool:

I've decided just to add an indication of a black shirt. I'll be back soon with an update, possibly the final version.

Here it is! Now that it's on the computer I see that I need to soften the throat area. And, I may have ruined it with the signature, but it isn't moving because it is Wallis!

Critiques still accepted. :D

Lacey,
This is very good! You handled the skin tones superbly.
Well done.
I would still consider drawing out the west shoulder just a tad more to give a bit of difference to the overall shape of the vignette.
Good work!

Beautiful!
 

This turned out wonderfully, Lacey. Aren't pastels fun? No waiting to dry, etc. Is this a commission, or portfolio piece?

By the way, you can get anything off Wallis paper. I think your signature looks fine, but if you want to remove or move it, you can lift it with a kneaded eraser and brush. You can even use water or some solvents. The paper can really take a beating. Some time, take a scrap of the Wallis and play with it. You can literally run it under a hose (but please don't do that with this piece!!!), and it's as good as new. :o

Wonderful work!

Brenda,

I think you may be right about the shoulder. I guess I am a little chicken! (Bock, bock :) ) I can see in my mind how it would look if it was pulled off sucessfully, but I am afraid that I'd end up making it look like something is missing or leaving some want of the other shoulder. Again, bock bock bock!

Molly,

Unfortunately this wasn't a commission. (Still waiting to get some of those.) But, I am really glad to use this lady as a model! I saw her at the grocery store and couldn't resist, so I gave her my card and said to call if she was interested, then proceeded to run away. But she called and is even willing to sit for hours while I paint!

I will do as you suggested and experiment with the Wallis paper. This is my first time using it and I'm very happy with the results... boy does the stuff stick! I also bought 2 sticks of Sennelier just to try out on this one and was happy with the different feel from the Rembrandts, and can see now how I could use both differently.

I'm under the spell now! There goes my tiny bank account! :exclamati

Here's an updated finished one (unless I get some guts on the shoulder). Just a couple finishing touches and the smoothing of the throat area.

Lacey, you have taken to pastels like a fishy to water. I think you have done a great job. You sure did capture an attitude. Have you tried Nu-pastels? If you like Rembrandt's you just mike like them too. PM me and I will send you some of the extras I have so you can try them and maybe add something to your collection. I am always happy to see people liking pastels.

Thanks so much for the kind words!

I have not tried Nu-pastels and will be excitedly pm-ing you right away! :sunnysmil

Lacey,
At the rate you are going, you will be getting commissions in no time! The pastel work emerging from this forum is getting downright impressive. Nicely done.