Need Help
 

I need help with this portrait (unfinished). I still need some detail work and smoothing about the face but I had planned to place some clothing trim about the neck for just a slight finish look near the neck but I'm not sure if this would take away from the focus of the face. By the way, the unusual pose was just an experiment as I like many of Singer Sargent's similar poses. Thanks for any advice.

http://www.cableone.net/deloid/catp1_375x500.jpg

Dean:

My opinion, but I think a little trim around the neckline of the garment would bring more detail and interest to the portrait. I would keep it a little subdued so it doesn't compete with the form.

Also, it may just be the scan of the painting, but I might look a little to the edge line of the form below the nose. It looks pretty straight and I think you may want to push it out just a bit more to indicate where the teeth push against the lips and mouth area.

Hope that helps...

Dean, This painting is very rigid. Your other painting had more diversity of color, which I really liked. Their was more interest in the subject because you told a story. Maybe you could work her face and the rest of the painting the way you handled the hair!

Maybe if you kept the red tones of the face but changed the clothing to red, then smooth out the skin tone and the red of the face and neck would be work to the reflections of color from the red clothing...?

Then, you could keep the dark background, put flicks of light as highlights of her nose, chin, etc. to bring her out.

Dean,

You have a good sense of form and drawing, but my concearn is with the color. Warm light with warm shadows makes the face seem "hot" or overly sunned. Always think of color as relational-warm light/cool shadows, cool light/warm shadows.

Also, vary your edges along the profile. Where the form turns more gradually (such as the forehead), make the edge softer. This will give the head more depth.

Overall, I like what you are doing with the picture. I like the dark background and the profile pose. Good job!

Kyle