Props

[Jean Kelly]

My next portrait will be of a lovely young woman, seated in a chair with (hopefully) beautiful lighting. I haven't brought the lights out yet. I found that I have Chroma 50 flourescent tubes in fixtures in the basement. I used these in my custom bedroom business for color matching, and forgot I had them!

I've been digging through fabric scraps, found a chair I like and have been playing today. Right now everything is just cobbled together with pins, I'm just looking at color. Oh, and I know the green in the fringe doesn't match, I can change that in the actual painting. These were taken in natural daylight. When my model comes, she will be seated facing the light, looking over her left shoulder. The back of the dress is cut almost to the waist with large silk organza roses applied. We're going to try her barefoot first and see what happens. I may put the rose in her hair which is very dark and long. Any comments or suggestions are welcome.

Zoe probably won't be in the picture, but she just couldn't stop herself.


Jean

[Steven Sweeney]

I'm trying to figure out how to get these props into some paintings.

Oh, sorry . . . I got into the wrong thread.

[Jean Kelly]

Maybe on Zoe's nose, then she can pretend she's the "Red Baron".

Jean

[Michele Rushworth]

Jean, I like the props in general, but I have two points to make. One is a question: what is the big pink tube on the floor?

The second is an observation: the white fabric on the floor will make all kinds of possibly undesirable reflections around her lower legs and feet. Typically we want the light to emphasize the face in a full length portrait and have it fall off to more darkness at the extremities.

I think you'll end up fighting against all that white on the floor which will bounce light off everything near it and it will work against keeping your focal point (the face) strong.

[Michele Rushworth]

By the way, great color for the backdrop. Some would call that Whitaker Green, or Leffel Green after the artists who use it most.

[Joan Breckwoldt]

Jean, I am impressed with the amount of planning you are doing. I know it's important but I am learning a lot from you already.

I love the green background with the white dress. Is that a big pillow on the chair? Could she sit in the chair without the pillow? The pillow might be distracting. Also, I await the answer to Michele's question about the pink tube.

When will the model come for the photo shoot? Is this a commission with client's input or is it something you are doing for yourself?

Joan