WIP commission
 

Please let me share a recent commission with you. My subject is a doctor/professor. He is quite busy and this is to be a surprise. So, as you will see I am to use my artistic intuition and abilities.

As you will at once notice, the reference photo is nothing close to what it should be. Still, it's one of those things that can come up sometimes. Getting another photo or having the person sit is next to impossible. What can I say except, we must pay the bills.

Mischa, you can try to adjust it a little bit, or maybe better just work from Black and White. I know this sort of problem...
Ciao, facci sapere come va
Ilaria

These are the first stages
 

First, I established where I think the placement of the shapes should be. I did this by blocking in using soft charcoal. I drew in the big shapes (the head shape and torso), than the shadow shapes trying to be as accurate as possible.

Than as you will notice I put in the first guess at dead color keeping in mind that this is only a guess. I did not use one tone for I am not sure what value key I would like this at. So I am playing with various tones. This is why I placed my colors on light, diluted a touch with mineral spirits. The shapes are a guess for as I develop the painting shapes will move around and the paint will go on thicker.

Your comments and suggestions are appreciated.

Mischa, I like the way you have shifted the head, it gives an interrogative expression to the portrait, and connects with the viewer
Ilaria

Ciao Ilaria! How did you do that? I have done some adjusting in photo shop but I must admit photo shop is a new tool for me. I did not want the dark in the shadow look. So I am attempting to use light shadow values.

Tank you Ilaria. I

I just played with the IMAGE>ADJUSTMENTS slides. Garth is the real expert here, try to trace some of his posts, they are very useful.
There is also a thread by yinthia on how to adjust photos of paintings.
I think a big part in setting the mood will be played by the background here.
Ilaria

Thanks Ilaria, I have been looking around. As you can see there is a lot of adjusting to be done. I did play some with selective color. I am doing what I can to make the adjustments on canvas. Do you maybe have any suggestions for a background?
mischa

Hi Mischa,

You have an interesting commission ahead of you - someone else's photo and a surprise painting, to boot.

You should be sure to start with the best reference you can. You certainly don't want to use the colors from the photo you have, and although what Ilaria did is good - it's a bit washed out.

Also you will want to tip your reference to match the angle you're painting, otherwise you'll have major alignment issues.

Here's a black & white with a simple value pattern to follow - and an adjusted color one.

Good luck!
Cindy

Cindy hi, Just got back from fitness class my wife and I go to.

I really appreciate you taking the time. This will certainly help.

Thank you!
mischa

Mischa,

Even though the lighting isn't ideal, at least it is directional and interesting.

I'll see how this looks when I post it, but I tinkered in Photoshop with Image-adjust-levels to gain a full value range, then with image-adjust-photofilter-blue to try to compensate for the white balance problem in the source photo.

I look forward to seeing this painting as it happens, it is more like a demo-in-progress:)

Mischa, the dark shadows are your anchors, without which you will drift around in the current or with the wind, as will your viewers.

You MUST not be afraid to go deeply into the dark shadows -- or at least the dark accents.

If colorless shadows are your concern, that's a different matter -- there are thousands of beautiful ways to paint dark mysteries. But don't shy away from the "value" of shadow.

It IS an accent, though, not the main feature. Don't overdo it, either.

Chris, thank you! When I was asked to do a portrait of the professor I had no idea that it would be a surprise. Boy was I a surprised! I explained that I need to take the photos but was discouraged. The professor is to retire in march and he is already cleaning. So, the staff want this to be a surprise.

I guess I was spoiled at the academy with ideal settings and lighting. I spent hours in Photoshop trying to figure out how to make this image come to life. Than I thought to trouble you my new found friends and ask for some help. I truly appreciate everyone

Yummy blue highlights!

wip next
 

Ok, I did push the shadows dark but wiped it off. I would love to do this the Caravaggio look but I need to have this one close to the executive look.

This is what is done so far. The background, blocked in the big shapes, attempted to establish a natural skin hue and experimented with keeping the values in a day time setting, with a single light source.

Please feel free to critique and give suggestions (I do not mind if you make marks or adjustment on the image).

Thank you ever so much!
mischa

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