Hi Everyone. I'm new to the forum and this is my first posting. I will post a source photo and the painting that is resulting. I would like to get more recognition for my work in broader region and one of my goals is to enter competitions. Here are some questions I have, but would be interested to hear comments suggestions on any aspect.
(1)I manipulated the photo to give a more classical or Rembrandt effect, but question if, since this is a young boy, that it would have been better to interpret the scene with more color. I won't change it at this point but would be interested in comments for future...
(2) in the source photo there is an inordinate amount of gossimer blond hair on the leg and on the top left lit forehead. I am aware of techniques to get this animal, hairy effect, but not sure if I should go there. My judgement is again weighing the classical method over say alla prima, where with AP it would definitely not work and be perfectly acceptable, but it is in detailed style so should all areas be congruent in style?
Despite it being very detailed in nature, even with classical method, my personal feeling is that hair on the leg would take away while adding the detail at the hairline would add since the focus/the story is the face. Your thoughts...
(3) Illumination on the left side of face (the subject's right) is too much the same as the value in the pants. If the face is the emphasis, would it be more effective to slightly darken the foreground, lower area, mainly white pants?
(4) Since the painting is developed with detail-inclusive style on the subject, would it be more effective to diminish the detail on things like the mortar lines in the floor tiles. Comments, opinions, suggestions very welcome. I'm head-scratching more than painting. I feel I'm on the homestretch, but can't quite get there. I'm not of the ilk to afford a lot of competitions, so any crits that help me take it up some notches will be gratefully received ^/^. [This is scary. I hope someone responds bc I'm hungry for real improvement.]
