Kim
 

I don't do many pastels this is one of less than a half dozen I've completed. Whenever I see this one I think of those I've got milk commercials. This is Kim a family friend it's done on charcoal paper with soft and hard pastels. Critiques are welcome.

This is really nice, Dan. I like the crisp blue/green/orange contrasts. Nice drawing, too. A pretty girl without the sentimentality.

If I had to mention anything at all, I would suggest downplaying the contrast between that cream colored shirt and the shadow of the orange jacket. It seems to be drawing attention away from the subject's face.

Do you want a critique for likeness? If so, then post the original photo too.

Dan this is a well done portrait. I have one small nitpick, if we can call it that, and that is her face an neck in shadow. To me it gives the impression as it is not part of the face rather a stranger in hue on such a lovely face.

Julie has a point about the white lace top. Maybe the edges where the two hues meet could be softer or not there at all or as Julie suggests unite the values but the hues will be different.

Julie and Mischa
 

Thank you both, your comments are helpful and appreciated. I was not aware that the white shirt was a distraction, but I can see now that it is, and the shadow on the neck has always bothered me in this portrait, I felt it looked more like a beard than a shadow. Perhaps more reflected light might make it more bearable.

Dan,

I have to agree, this is really nicely done! I am amazed at the resolution of detail acheived, but more than that, you have not over-rendered anything, and it all fits together so well. Such a good and sensitive likeness, too. I like you color sense. The only thing from the standpoint of traditional conventions of portrait painting that bothers me a little, is the harsh lighting effect; but it is very interesting and arresting too, due to that. I must say though, that I cannot imagine anyone else getting a more masterful result from the photographic resource you had to work with. I'm in awe.

A belated welcome to the Forum, too!

Garth

Thank you Garth

When I took the ref photo for this I intended to only do a chiaroscuro drawing so I used just a single light source ( a 75 watt incandescent bulb very close and slightly in front of the subject) It wasn't until later that I decided to attempt it as a pastel and so that is why the lighting is so harsh. Thank you again for your kind observations.

Really dramatic, lovely to see a different form of lighting. Her face can certainly handle the drama of the shadows, what lovely features
I also like the background gradation, subtly done.