Hello all,
One thing I've learned from this exercise so far is that the next time I do this I'll make my painting the same size as the reference work, maybe by getting a poster of the painting. My painting here is scaled slightly larger than the reproduction on page 68 of my book, but slightly smaller than the version on the cover. When I put either version next to my painting to check one against the other, it's really difficult to tell whether I've got an eye, for example, too big or too small or in the correct relation to some other feature. It can be done, but it's a lot harder than it needs to be. Michelle already mentioned that this exercise works best if done in the original size of the painting. I just want to emphasize that I'm paying the price for ignoring her good advice.
Another thing I've noticed is that my reproductions both show what appears to be some damage in parts of the original painting. There's the obvious cracking in the face area, which I don't intend to reproduce, but which is enough to actually alter the values in this area. I'm thinking of the area above her right eye (our left) on the forehead.
Another area is in the shadow side of the blue turban, where the black looking portions seem to be really irregular, as though the blue paint had been somewhat abraded so the dark background might be showing through in places.
I've decided to paint things the way I think the pristine original might have looked, even though I'm not completely sure what that was. I lack the skill to reproduce that area in the turban in any event. All of this makes one realize that a career in art forgery is probably not the easiest way to make a buck!
Denise, It seems to me that my version has a slightly more "worried" look compared to the placid expression in the original. Also mine looks a little older than the girl in the original. Maybe both effects stem from the same source, but I'm not sure what it is. I'm going to work on the clothing now before I go back to the face. I'll post the finished grisaille when I'm done. I'm eager to see what others do with this exercise!
