WIP Commission

Patricia Joyce · 01-30-2006, 11:09 AM

It is so difficult to do a double portrait and it seems to be all I am getting lately. Anyways, as you can see the girl on our right is just about finished, face and hair . I need allot of work still, on girl on left. But I have a question. These girls live in CT so I could not do my own photos and the blond on right has a puffy sleeve that pushes up to the line along her jaw that you see, very little information in the photo, probably enough to get some kind of sketchy impression, which may be what I am after. The other girl is wearing a black blouse with NO detail.

I cannot post the photo ref, for privacy issues but if I could get any help, if help is even available with such sketchy information. I know, I know, take my own photos from now on, but how to do that when commission is out of state??

Thanks for looking
Patty

Julie Deane · 01-30-2006, 11:47 AM

Hi Pat -

This is coming along nicely. Since you don't have much info in the photo, can you finish it with simple lines indicating necklines? You might be able to get some kids locally to pose in the same position for you, so you can see what the necklines would do without puffy sleeves in the way.

Julie

Patricia Joyce · 01-30-2006, 11:55 AM

Hi Julie,
That's not a bad idea, maybe I will "scrounge around" for a couple kids. I looked, rather studied all my anatomy books, including one I have with children, but couldn't figure out what her shoulder/shoulder blades/back are quite doing in the photo. It is an odd twist, and you can tell she has her shoulder somewhat hunched up to her cheek.

Mischa Milosevic · 01-30-2006, 01:04 PM

Pat, excuse me. I know I

Mischa Milosevic · 01-30-2006, 01:06 PM

P.S I did not draw this!

Mike McCarty · 01-30-2006, 09:12 PM

Patricia:

I think that after you leave the faces you should abandon whatever you are fretting over in the photo. As Julie said, you should indicate some plausable neckline with simple tailing lines holding short of the edge of the canvas. Also, I wouldn't try and introduce a dark color below the face. To me the girl on the right reads well enough with the line coming up tight on her neck. Just make some indication with a brief extention of that line.

You have a couple of great faces going so far, let them do the work and offer just the minimum supporting information. Make it plausable, then make it yours.

Best of luck.

Patricia Joyce · 01-31-2006, 11:36 AM

Thank you Mischa and Mike,
Your suggestions are just what I wanted to read, as I have been really stressing over what to do! BTW the client has seen the WIP and she absolutely can't wait till I am finished. She loves it so far, let's hope I finish well!

Thanks you again
Patty

Ngaire Winwood · 02-05-2006, 01:13 AM

Patricia

Great job so far, you will have very satisfied clients I am sure. It could even trickle to more work when they spread your word around.

Misha, you is the artist?

Patricia Joyce · 02-06-2006, 10:25 AM

Thank you Ngaire,
I actually have another double portrait commission which came out of this WIP, and then I have one I just received from my little portfolio (always keep it with me, and this client is a waitress where I eat breakfast on Saturdays). But the "funny" thing is that I worked on the second girl in this portrait this past weekend and in the end set the whole drawing aside and began again!!! AAAGGGHHH. I once received great advice from Marvin Mattelson. Basically he said, do not get so attached to your work, the hours you put into a piece, that you cannot start again. Sometimes you have to do a work over and over to get it to a point where you are proud to have it "out there" for the world to see.

It was very disheartening to start again, but I am pretty happy with the new drawing and hope to finish it this week or next...trying not to feel the pressure of two commissions in the wings!
Thank you again
Patty