First Critique Request

[Julie Gerleman]

Hello All,

OK - here's my first submission to the Portrait Artist Critique Forum. I have learned so much from everyone just reading other critiques and I'm excited that this exists and to be a part of it!

I am venturing back into this after about a three-year haitus of basically forgetting that I am an artist! I am beginning to work in the direction of pastels. (I really adore the silkiness of that medium), but up to now a majority of my portrait work has been charcoal. This is of my mother, from a photograph (an old one! - note the beehive doo.)

Anyway, I very much appreciate any feedback offered to me about this. Thanks in advance.

Cheers,
Willow

[Karin Wells]

You have done a wonderful job of portraying your mother...she has a real "sparkle" to her and your talent certainly shows. It is too bad that whoever took the original photograph did not use a single source of light. It really is difficult to invent light...but necessary if you are to become a strong painter.

My only suggestion would be to rely less on outline and pay more attention to planes and volume (i.e., you are outlining the outside edges of the dress, jawline, hair...).

[Julie Gerleman]

Dear Karin,

Thank you so much for your feedback. I found interesting your comment about paying attention to planes and volume; It's always felt like such a leap of faith to me to move away from the outlines of a form and into the volume of it, if that makes sense. (Which is why I feel like I'm 'taking a walk on the wild side' with the pastel work I'm doing lately. It's all about the space within. Fun and exciting and a little scary, which tells me I'm onto something!)

Anyway, thanks again!

Cheers,
Willow

Beehive? This is how my beautician still styles my hair if I'm not paying very close attention!

You are very talented, do you work in other mediums? I look forward to seeing more of your work.

[Lon Haverly]

Very nicely drawn! This is a tricky angle, and you executed beautifully!

Drawing is so much a matter of the quality of lines. I always say, if the lines are good, the drawing is good. Charcoal can be very expressive. It is very immediate. It is an ideal portrait medium. But you have to gentle it. Try to make each line you draw be meaningful and beautiful. I would rather see fewer more carefully selected line work in the shading, especially in the neck area, where there are some cross hatch type lines, and less business in the background.

You have a flare and a natural ability for portraits, as you captured the "sparkle" as Karin said.

Welcome to the SOG, Willow!

Lon