Jr Achievement portrait
 

I'm just wrapping this one up. I don't have time for much more work on it, but I'd love to hear any c/c.

Thanks,
Christy

Christy, I really like this.
I have a couple of suggestions: you might want to continue the drawing of his body (just drawing) all the way down to the canvas. Personally I have a thing against vignette portraits because to me they seem floating in mid air and it is very difficult to have the head tridimensional, especially when it is the head of a man, but you may not agree.
Anyway here is an example of what I mean more or less.

My other suggestion is to try and add some cooler colours in the skin tones. You can both have them in the light areas and in the shadow to show that the head turns toward the neutral grey. I know this is the opposite of THE rule (warm light, cool midtones, dark shadows) but I think it may work here

Ilaria

Christy, just sign it.

Thanks for looking and commenting IIaria and Mischa! :) Someone else also mentioned the use of cooler colors in the skin tones as well. I'll have time to work on it today, so I'll try it out. I agree with you IIaria about disliking the floating vignette. I don't like them much either, usually, but design-wise I'm not sure I have the skill to pull it off half painted and half drawn to the bottom of the canvas. I'll certainly be thinking about it...

Here is the second of the three guys I'm painting. This one I began last night. He has passed away, and I was only given 2 photos of him. In both he was smiling so large that his eyes are only squints! This one needs lots more work on the face, but here it is so far.

Christy

Here is the last guy underway. I have to have them to the framer Thursday morning as the event is Thurday evening! Still have tomorrow to finish them up.

Christy, I really do like the one of the man in the red tie, it's a strong visual design with a good sense of this man's character. I like what you've done with the combination of bold painterly strokes and a few wandering lines.

By the way I found a good discussion of vignettes on this link.

Thanks Linda! :) Yes, that middle one is my favorite too. It has the most grace to it, by far.

That was an incredible link! I've bookmarked the link you provided on Laszlo whom I'd never heard of before. When I get the chance I'll drink it all in. Such beautiful examples of vignettes! After looking at those it's kind of hard to look at mine! ;)

Christy