Cole

[Jim Riley]

This 20" x 16" oil was done from a composite of several photos in which the young man's head was no bigger than 1/2". I usually won't work from poor photos but the client is the manager of my favorite local watering hole and he wanted to surprise his wife.

[Heidi Maiers]

Very nice work Jim! I like this neutral palette you are using. Very comforting feeling it exudes.

[Chris Saper]

Dear Jim.

Despite the fact that you didn't take the source photo, I know that you wouldn't have started with wretched reference.

It is so enjoyable to see your work again - your style has a signature as solid as DNA.

[Linda Nelson]

Man, you sure a someone who knows what they're doing.

That is an excellent, straight forward and well crafted piece.

[Holly Snyder]

Very nice Jim, very lifelike. And yes, it's good to see your work again. I'm curious as to what few colors are on your palette?

Holly

[Michele Rushworth]

Luscious paint!

[Garth Herrick]

Man you are good Jim! Why can't all portraits be as simple, direct, elegant and forceful as this?

With a reference so small, how did you manage the sharp crisp definition? Were you mostly drawing upon thirty-five years of experience to fill the voids, or was the half inch head that sharp?

I love the big-brush vignetting.

Garth

[Jim Riley]

Thanks all for the kind comments.

I posted this painting because it was simple and direct and it followed a few lengthy projects that despite lots of effort were not as satisfying as this small portrait of "Cole". I continue to have problems shooting and editing my digital pics and therefore should explain that some of the colors are not very true and the original has a little more color play than this post displays. I do not have a limited palette but try to use only the colors needed in any given situation and in this painting the color shifts here are purposely very subtle. Though it is not apparent here, I am using and experimenting with several reds recommended by Nelson Shanks and Marvin Mattelson but find it still necessary to employ cadmium red.

While in art school and after fulfilling my basic requirements I continued to take a full day of life drawing through graduation. As my job assignments took me to new locations and I always found a local life drawing class and believe this has helped me understand and render forms in a convincing way. I confess that I had to make some guesses here because of the poor photos but the response by those who know him better than I has been very good.

To appreciate the quality of my reference pics try enlarging a digital print of a 1/4" head in a 5"x7" photo. It was VERY grainy.

[Kimberly Dow]

I am so impressed by the small size of your reference and what you accomplished!

[Jan Keeling]

If this newbie may add her two cents, I just want to tell you this is absolutely splendid, Jim.