My first oil commission
 

This is my first oil commissionwell, second counting the nun but that was a couple years ago.,Sso I will be seeking your expert advice and posting my progress all along the way. My clients are hoping it will be delivered sometime in March.

Here is the photo reference. They gave me all the negatives from this 35mm roll of film so I plan to take them to a photographer who can work with bettner color, etc. My question to you is a matter of composition. Anyone have any suggestions. The finished painting will be 24 x 36 or larger???

Thank you
Patty

Hi Patty,
I would crop it a little closer like this.

Good recommendation Allan; I would leave a little more at the bottom edge so that the reflections don't create tangents with the lower edge- be sure to leave enough room for the frame rabbet:)

PS Play with the horizon line so that there isn't a tangent with the heads.

Pat, this looks like FUN!

You are going to have so much fun doing this!

What immediately comes to my mind is the gorgeous, light filled Sorolla paintings I saw last spring in Paris. If I were fortunate enough to have this commission, I would definitely look long and hard at his work.

I would also go BIG, at least 30x40 and you will have a wow piece!

The photo is great! Be sure of having it scanned properly and to have a large print to work with.

I agree with Chris, be careful and leave extra space if the frame is not a flying frame.

I will add that I think that the tallest boy at the right could be a little taller than the horizon, that would create a connection and break the horizon line.
Have fun ;)

Patty,

Congratulations on the commission! I think all the suggestions so far are great. I like the way Allan has cropped leaving more room on the left so the figures are not centered, plus allowing space for the arm sticking out.

The only thing I want to add is a word of caution about photo labs. The usual way to print photos is to enhance the color.

At my local camera shop, I start by askig them to print a 4x6" with "no processing." They scan it into the computer and "print as is." They save the image on their computer.Then I look at the print and say "too yellow," or "too washed out," and they print out another 4x6. I keep stopping by until the print is correct, then I get it burned to a CD and printed larger. It s now calibrated to their printer. This is most useful for getting CDs of my paintings, but it could also be useful for getting a good reference if you don't have your own scanner and printer. Aside from the original $$ outlay for getting the scan, the rest should hardly cost anything because prints are cheap once the image is digital.

Good luck with this.It should be so enjoyable to paint.

Great advice
 

You are all giving me great things to think about which may not have occured to me until I was actually into the process of painting. I like the cropped version too, but feel it needs to show all of their reflections (which is such an exciting part of this challenge). I will do prelim tonal/compositional drawings to experiment with the horizon, too. The client wants me to bring in more blue in sky and water and more of the sand color (close to a pure yellow ochre). So I will be doing some color studies once I get an image as close as I can to what I want.

Alexandra I will definitely do as you suggest. I have a great camera store nearby which will help me with these negatives. I will post them when I can.

Thanks
Patty

Good for you!
 

Congrats Patty,

I like the full space, but there right side needs to be pulled in for better balance. I really like the environmental aspect and the spaciousness. I think making the figures subservient to the landscape makes for a more interesting painting. Hey, but that's just me.

I would also move the horizon up slightly, so the boy's head isn't touching. I'd also make sure the horizon was parallel to the top and bottom of the painting. Do lot's of small color and value studies so that when you begin the actual painting you'll have resolved all your problems. I know you'll do a great job.

Thanks, Marvin. You will see me seeking advice very shortyly! I'm getting excited.

Looks like a fun project!

Here is the first stage, painted with raw umber. Now that I have let it sit for a day I see that there needs to be some minor adjustments to the drawing of the shadow in the water and the value of the boy on the far left's arm is wrong.

I could use some input as to the placement of the horizon. Does placing the horizon above the kids close them in? It will of course be very soft and grayed to recede. I thought a high horizon would focus the kids more "in" the scene creating more depth. Does that make sense to any of you?

I opted for painting the whole landscape instead of cropping because I do not have much detail on the boy's face looking at the camera.

Thanks,
Patty

Patty, the most problematic thing is still the balance of the figures in the composition. I feel there is too much space on the right, not enough on the left. Even if you keep the figures small in relation to the setting, this still hold true.

The high horizon looks fine to me.

is this a better composition, Alexandra?

I did not see Alexandra's post about composition until I had begun to lay in color. I have ordered another canvas and they are backordered. So I decided to go ahead with this knowing that the second time will be better. I am moving the painting to critique section and am praying you follow . . . I have lots of issues!!! ;)

That looks much better, Patty! It will be beautiful!

In this business, color correcting photos yourself is an essential capability, I think. (Unless you have the rare luxury of working from life for all of your commissons!)

I would get the negative (or a large print if you can't find someone who will work with the neg) digitally scanned. Then bring it into Photoshop and play around with color curves, levels, color balance, etc. I color correct or darken/lighten all or part of the images that I use on just about every portrait I have ever done. The photo is never sufficient in itself, and changing to be exactly what I want it is part of the creative process, whether I shot the photo or not.

Working with a photo lab can be immensely frustrating, time consuming, expensive and not give you anywhere near the control you need. Photoshop is pricey but you might be able to get a student price. Photo printers cost less than $100. The ink is expensive over time, though.

But the creative control you get by being able to make the reference into exactly what you want, at your desk, with your desktop photo printer, at any time of day or night, is so worthwhile.

Well?
 

How did your commission work out? I think the reference was a great one to start with, very intimate. Should have been a lot of fun. Hope it was.

Clayton

Hi Clayton,
Thank you for your interest. The finished commission is in the unveilings section. The family are very happy with it and I am hearing from the grapevine that it was a big hit at their party two weeks ago!