Self
 

I've redone this self-portrait a couple times now. I start to get worred that the stuff on my canvas is transient - I can't seem to come back to a piece without redoing the whole thing. Despite all my troubles I've learned a lot of what not to do in the process. At this point, I think I'm reasonably happy despite some nasty flaws I see now that I'm looking at the digital (the left eye looks too large and is too asymmetrical). Any other glaring problems? Any advice for overall improvement?

Hi Dave,

You've already noticed the biggest deal about this nice work, to me if you correct that everything will be okay.

You can use a good mirror to check such things on a future portrait, even while painting a self portrait, you have to use a mirror other than the first one.

It's great, Dave! Very compelling. That little bit of imperfection makes it even more interesting.

Alex

There's a few other problems I noticed too. The highlight of the left cheekbone is too low and the left cheekbone is a bit too wide. The colours around the neck look pretty crude here. This is not a very good picture of it so the colours a bit distorted.

I did periodically check with a mirror (just holding up the same mirror I look at myself with) but for some reason I didn't see these problems until I flipped the digital image.

Thansk for the advice,
Dave

Thanks Alexandra. You're comments are very much appreciated. Regarding that imperfection, do you really think it is made more interesting? If so, why? It is somethign that bothers me so I will come back to fix it....at the risk of making it less interesting :-)

Dave,

I'm editing my post because I don't think it came across the way I meant it. Yes, I really like the imperfections, I think for the same reason that Chris said so articulately below me.(Puts my verbal ramblings to shame, Chris!) But on the other hand, it is your work of art, and you've got to make the decisions on what to do with it and how far you want to take it, so don't let my opinion, or the opinions of anyone else, sway you from doing what you feel is right for you.

It's a vibrant, exciting self-portrait.

I think your portrait is honest, fresh, and very powerful. Often I think that's what characterizes work from life. There might be some sacrifice of likeness precision, but it's more than offset with the freshness. As a piece of art, I really love it the way it is.

I don't think anyone who hasn't had the experience can appreciate how difficult it is to do a self portrait from life. It's VERY hard. This has nothing at all to do with client commissioned portraits nor, IMO, should it.

As I see this work, I don't think that I could offer a critique in the way I might for a commission work.You have really stretched, Dave. Fine work.

I might suggest that you make some changes to the eyes, as you mentioned, but otherwise this is a bold, compelling and very well done painting!

I go with Chris. When i look at it, not only am i capture by the "fiery colors", but it's expression tells me to not look away from you and pay attention. In deeper sense i feel like i'm waiting for me to tell you what you're struggling to say to me, deep inside you.
A most poetic piece, resonating to what i aspire myself in my works.

Welcome Dave!
 

Dave, this is such a compelling portrait. I love your gripping gaze, and fiery, no nonsense palette. I agree with all the accoloades above, which you much deserve! I like the irregularity too. Great Painting!

Garth

Hi Dave--
On the eyes, they're probably worth changing if they're not like your own. . . but otherwise

Vibrant, solid and well done! :thumbsup:

I agree with everyone else that this is a terrific painting. I particularly like the way you hadled the highlights. The portrait glows with life.

Wow! I was very surprised to see all these replies when I looked at this thread this morning. I woke up feeling kind of cranky but all these encouraging responses have made my day...and I will try to ruminate on them as long as I can.

Alexandra - I still think that flaws are flaws particularly if they're unintentional. I doubt there is anyone that can paint without any flaws (although some of the stuff I've seen here comes pretty darn close)- the severity of the flaw is what matters, I suppose. In this case, the flaws are nasty enough to warrant fixing. I think the opinions of others should sway me to at least see problems where I don't. There is lot of stuff I've done in the past that my own eyes were incapable of objectively critiquing. With fresh eyes, I look back now in shock at the problems I didn't see then.

Chris - I'm delighted that you like and appreciate what I've done here! I agree the process of doing a self-portrait from life is VERY hard. I've done several but I think this may be the most difficult for me due to the masochistic approach I have taken. First, I arranged my lighting environment to be quite unstable - where every slight tilt of my head would alter values and colours fairly significantly. Second, I did this life size using a mirror that sits next to my canvas on my easel. In hindsight, I should have sat as far back from the easel as I could have but what I ended up doing was moving my head back and forth between mirror and canvas, either painting the memory of what I last saw or painting the image I see on a canvas that is off to my left.

Michele - Thanks!

Marcus - I'm honored by what you've said and how you expressed it!

Garth - I've been admiring the quality of your portraits quite a bit on this forum so your words mean a great deal to me - thanks!

Terri - Thank you!

Lisa - Thanks a lot. I'll try to get a close up later on since the digital image doesn't show the texture, particularly for the lighter areas.

I had a few minutes to touch this up a bit tonight. There are still some things I plan to do when I have more time but I got a closeup picture to show what my camera can't pick up from a distance.

Hi Dave,
It looks much better now, you're doing a great job!

Thanks!

updated image
 

I updated this last week. I know there a problems with the eye and ears but I don't plan to come back to this since it would probably result in yet another repaint.

Dave -

I think the pluses GREATLY outnumber the things you mention. Nice work!

I really like the use of those warm colors, the three-dimensional feel and the overall look of this piece.

Dave,

Wow, you really do repaint completely with each update. It is much stronger now, through all that decision making. Your rich expressive color is a unique treat here. I am looking forward to your next portrait.

Garth

Julie - Thanks! I push hard for the illusion of mass. I painted this under incandescent lights and the photo of it is under the same lighting. Under daylight conditions it doesn't appear as warm. I wish I know how I could paint something in warm light and retain that warmth for other lighting conditions.

Garth - Yeah, the repainting habit bothers me quite a bit. I have reckless tendencies, wanting to paint fast, wet, sloppy and all over the canvas. What it means is I can spend all sorts of time fussing with something only to lose it all in the next session. On the other hand I want to believe that this process is doing something good for my development. For a future one, I think I ought to experiment with a more careful approach.

You can't, unless the painting will be seen an even warmer light. When you paint in a warm light, the tendency is to keep compensating for the warm temperatures, and the painting will be way too cool under natural light. If you paint under an incandescent light, you'll overcompensate for the cools, and the painting will be too hot under natural light.

Painting slowly has ironically cut the overall time it now takes me to complete a painting.

Yeah, the problem I have is that the times I get to paint are usually late at night. I'm forced to use artificial light. I use blue-filter bulbs to help reduce the warmth but it's still not the same as natural light. Any recommendations on how to produce a more natural lighting environment without spending a lot?

I'm a bit confused by what you're saying here. Do you mean if I paint under cool lighting conditions?

Edit note: Yes so sorry, that's what I meant:)

This makes complete sense to me. I find most of my time is spent trying to correct things - if I did it right the first time, I wouldn't have that problem. Mind you, from life, I want to try to make it easy for my model in a given sitting...of course the consequence of that is more sittings.

Dave,

I love the color and intensity.

Nothing done from a photograph could touch this. Great job!

This is an outstanding painting imo. As a viewer I dont keep hanging on the technique but to that 'something' that emerges behind this portrait. :thumbside (Wish my English was better :) )