Soft pastel portrait

04-17-2002, 12:00 AM

Here's a recent soft pastel portrait from a study session. Any pointers, please! Higher resolution images are available at www.LegacyVisions.com Thanks!

Joseph Brzycki · 04-17-2002, 09:05 AM

Jim, I really like this one. The only thing that bothers me is the chair. It's a little distracting and confusing.

Mike McCarty · 04-17-2002, 10:35 AM

This is a really nice portrait. A very sympathetic, convincing pose.

Marta Prime · 04-17-2002, 02:40 PM

Hi Jim,

This is a really good. I think it takes more talent to do older people. I mean, you have to make them look somewhat flattering, while making them look like themselves without making them look haggard. It's a challenge for me. I don't have much experience in pastels, so my comment is around the pose of the individual. Joseph said the chair bothers him. I don't think it's the chair, but the way the man is sitting in the chair. Is he sitting on the edge of the chair leaning back, not a very good ergonimic pose, or is his stomach out there? When I do a painting I try to make the subject sit in a flattering/natural way. If he has a slightly poochy stomach perhaps it would have been better to get him at a different angle?

I know. Apples and Oranges.

Lon Haverly · 04-17-2002, 10:19 PM

I like this, Jim. Beautiful style, and well executed. I have no reference photo, but the head appears a bit shallow from front to back.

However, it works.

Well done!
Lon

04-18-2002, 09:37 PM

Thank you everyone for all of your time and input! First, let me add that this one and the pink reclining girl painting were done at study sessions of a local artists' society. I had little or no input r.e. the poses, lighting, and little choice about my perspective. Quite a difference from an agonizing commission. I just show up, paint, and hope to get lucky! Then after the sessions I often play around from memory, seldom with reference photos. These sessions make for nice technical exercises and a reprieve from @*&!?&#!@!! commissions.

Joseph: I too have a problem with the chair. I tried to vignette and downplay it, but it's still troublesome. The sitter was sitting upright in the chair, and I was looking at his profile, slightly from behind. The light source was on his side opposite me, giving me basically a backlit profile. Should I obfuscate the chair almost completely? Let it dissolve more into the background atmosphere? Neutralize it? Indicate more of it's top? Any ideas?

Mike: Thanks! Guess it's too late 2 take much credit for that though.

Marta: His belly's out there.

Thanks 4 reminding me to always pay attention to these things. Composition, composition, composition!

Lon: Do U mean shallow dimensionally (colorism, modeling) or anatomically?

Thanks again, your fresh eyes R priceless!

Joseph Brzycki · 04-18-2002, 10:28 PM

Jim, If this were my painting, I would totally get rid of the chair. Any attempts at trying to adjust it might not work. Therefore, I think the easiest solution would be to get rid of it. Here's a quick Photoshop fix....

Lon Haverly · 04-19-2002, 03:09 AM

Perhaps the age and view gives an unusually shallow dimension from the front to back. It is the sag of the neck perhaps, which in comparison to the back of the neck which creates an illusion of being out of proportion, when, in fact, it is not.

It is a very stately portrait, and I really like it. My pastels are so very impressionistic, sketchy and unfinished. (20 minute wonders.) It is refreshing to see a well finished pastel. After so many years of knocking them out in 20 minutes, I doubt if I could develop one to this degree of finish - I would probably hurt myself in the process!

Lon

04-21-2002, 01:45 AM

Thank you Joseph! I like your revised version much better. Isn't photoshop wonderful?

Lon: I love your quickness! I've done charcoal and (only once!) pastel portraits on the spot like U but not nearly as well. I get too complex with the tones, etc. I'm in awe of your 10 min. charcoals. Mine (last I've done them) took 1/2 to 1 hr.! Think the next time I do them, I'll try using powdered charcoal for shading like U mentioned in this forum elsewhere. Usually I take with my finger from the darkest shadows for this. Do U use compressed or vine for your lines?

Thanks a lot, guys.

Lon Haverly · 04-21-2002, 12:09 PM

I have always used soft vine charcoal, 1/4" for layout, long dark hair and clothing, 1/8" for facial detail and lighter hair. I have a drawer in my table where I sand my charcoal and collect the dust. I always use i/2 sticks, and rarely use short ones, as I like to keep a long extension on the stick for control and sensitivity. You can't be sensitive with a short little stub.

Thank you for your kind words. I am deeply grateful for the input here. You are very talented.