Self-portrait from life

Lacey Lewis · 09-02-2005, 04:06 PM

I'm baaack!

Please believe me when I say that I am not self-obsessed, but have a lack of models to use.

Got to keep working!

So, I decided to do a self portrait from life. I had a single light clamped to the top of my easel so it's dramatic lighting and it was tough to paint under those conditions... it looks so odd once you turn the lights on! So I also did some work with the lights on. It's also been a bit tough to see myself in the mirror with my head at such an angle.

It's still a work in progress and I think it's going OK but I am just not sure how well it's reading. I have very fair skin and I wonder if the shadows here are too rich for light skin. I do need to bring in some cooler halftones and model more especially on the far side of the face and the hair over the forehead, and add a little reflected light under the jaw .

What else? How are the shadows in particular looking to you? All advice appreciated.

Brenda Ellis · 09-02-2005, 05:36 PM

Hi Lacey,
I really really like this a lot!
Once again, take my inexperienced opinion with a grain

...
I think the shadows look all right for your skin. The lighting is dramatic. It's hard to tell from your avatar, but I would re-check the chin shape (the modeling in the light areas of the chin) and the shadow under the nose and the upper lip's lights and shadows.
It's beautiful...very strong!
What size is this?

Lacey Lewis · 09-02-2005, 08:20 PM

Thanks Brenda! I always look forward to your replies.

I will go ahead and check the areas that you mentioned when I get back to it this evening. I still haven't changed that avatar... tsk tsk!

This is life sized. I'd hate to actually measure my big ol' head, though! Hah!

Alexandra Tyng · 09-02-2005, 09:36 PM

Hi Lacey,

I think it looks great! The shadows have an excellent potential for being totally believable. I think if you set your head into the space around it, you will see the shadows fall into place. Right now the head is detatched from the colors around it and that raises the question of whether they are "correct." They will be correct in context. I'm especially fond of the colors and rendering of the neck.

Alex

Lacey Lewis · 09-03-2005, 12:43 AM

Thanks for the kind words, Alex.

I went ahead and took your advice and then some! I like the background and may leave it flat, but let me know if it needs something else. If anything, I am thinking something geometrical but it might be fine alone.

I am concerned about my choice of the white shirt, I hope it is not overpowering. I'm trying to use skin tones in it to keep it unified, but maybe it's just to light of a value. I've also been toying with including my tattoo, whick goes across my chest with a medallion shape in the middle, but again I don't want it to be too distracting.

I have been using the flash to take my pictures on these, and since it seemed to lean a bit too blue I've attempted to color correct this. Some of the variations in the chest and shirt may not be showing up and some of the colors may be a bit warmer. *shrug*

The size of the whole sheet of paper is 24x18".

Lacey Lewis · 09-03-2005, 01:36 AM

I have already decided to change the shirt here, it doesn't look believable. I actually have an off the shoulder cream colored faux fur shirt that I will replace this one with.

Alexandra Tyng · 09-03-2005, 08:29 AM

Hi again,

Ahhh, background! I see you have used colors similar to those in the deepest shadows, and that is good because it will help unify the figure and ground. I think you can go further in softening the edge of the hair on the right side of the picture plane, beginning under the highlight and going into the neck and shoulder. There in the shadow the contours of the figure as it turns into the shadow should meld softly into the background. Right now it still looks a bit "cut out" ont that side.

Can't wait to see what you do with the shirt.

Alex

Lacey Lewis · 09-04-2005, 12:46 AM

Thanks, Alex. I've softened some and replaced the shirt. What do you think of it?

You know, I amways have a background that gets darker near the light edges on the figure and lighter near the dark edges on the figure. I am, of course, tempted to do it again here, but I am trying to do something different. I keep thinking of including something geometrical, but I don't know exactly what! Maybe an arch?

Well, as I was posting that I tried something out in photoshop and decided to go with it!

And, I think I will soften the edge of the cast shadow.

Any other suggestions? Is the shirt to busy, distracting?

(The out-of-focus pic may have more accurate colors.)

Lacey Lewis · 09-04-2005, 01:46 AM

OK, here it is. I am fairly satisfied with it. I keep seeing things that I could/should fix, but I don't try to linger for too long at the end to avoid over-working. Please do point out anything that you think needs attention, this is still for critique!

The stripe reminds me of one of Jimmy Arroyo's pastels. (Sorry for ripping you off, but it works!)

Brenda, I did revisit the nose and chin area along the way and corrected the nose shadow and slightly changed the chin.

Now I'll just stew over that signature for a while.

(I think I have the colors in the pic about right now!)

Richard Monro · 09-04-2005, 06:15 AM

Lacey,
This is coming along nicely. The stripe works great. My only comnent is that the pink on the left side of the nose junps out at me. Reducing some of the saturation in that area might be needed. I am always amused by the self portraits we paint. The intesity and concentration is always there. By the way, I think you have a great model. Keep painting her...and the price is right!