What do you think of this one?
 

This is a great idea for a topic discussion! So, I thought I would post the picture I took of my son one morning after he got out of the tub. I think this would make a great painting, but we shall let the experts decide! I developed the photo myself in my dark room. My favorite picture of my son!

Jennifer, this photograph stands alone on its own as a fine piece!

Thank you very much, Lon! I am partial to it, too! :-)

Hi Jennifer,

I love this photo, too. I can't tell from the post but it looks to me like you have scarcely any middle tones...if you can't find good middle tone information, even by backlighting the photo/overexposing a print, I would suggest foregoing color, and working the image in charcoal, sauce (see Peggy B's info), or sepia. Because there is a great deal of solid dark, you might work an a midddle to dark-muiddle tone paper, primarily pulling up the lights, ..maybe using white charcoal pencil and a ground in deep ochre or gray-green? It a great opportunity to really practice your drawing and modeling skills.

Not every image needs to be done in a tradional way...sometimes there are opportunities that might not otherwise be present!

Chris

P.S. I would lose the sipping cup and go with an apple or some other simple, recognizable shape.

Great idea Chris! I would love to learn the technique of Sauce, do they sell it in Michael's or Hobby Lobby, places like that? I will have to ask Peggy where she gets hers. I love the way it looks! I also like the idea of working with it on a dark paper. I bought some of that Art Spectrum paper and LOVE it! I will see what I come up with and post the results. Thanks for your input! :-)

You can buy sauce at Dickblick.com, and read more about it in Peggy Baumgaertner's article in "International Artist" (April/May, 2002). Richesonart.com also has information.

Jennifer

If I may pipe-in with my two cents worth:

The photograph is beautiful, and I agree with Lon that it is a stand-alone piece. I'm afraid, though, that if it were turned into a drawing or a painting it would look too photographic for my tastes. For instance, the complete loss of mid-tones in the strongly-lit area on the left (the rim-lighting) is a common photographic element that works well in photos, but not in art media. It is not the way we perceive the world with our eyes, but it is the way a camera registers it. Also, the nearly equal value range of the little fella's face against the background, makes the face "read" with the background instead of with the figure, as it should. As is, I would fear that a drawing or painting using this photograph as a reference, would end up being a wonderful study of child's arm.

Something to think about, anyway, I trust.

Juan

Wow...go for it! This can be a wonderful painting.