Underpainting/portrait finished

Virginia Branch · 05-28-2002, 09:35 PM

This is my finished portrait (14 x 11") using an underpainting with raw umber and titanium white. I was trying to copy Karin's underpainting technique but didn't quite get it on this one (posted in Portrait Critiques - "Underpainting study"). For the most part, I am pleased with the finished portrait but would still like any comments. Thanks!

Virginia Branch · 05-28-2002, 09:40 PM

Here is a close up. Am starting to think her shoulders look too small? I might soften her jaw line too.

Lon Haverly · 05-28-2002, 10:17 PM

Beautiful job! Nicely detailed, but nicely left undetailed around the edges. I like the way you did the vignette. I think it is a good idea to lose some of the detail at the bottom on a subject like this. Do you think the underpainting was beneficial or not? Would it have come out the same without the raw umber and titanium white underpainting?

Lon

John Bruso · 05-28-2002, 11:14 PM

Virginia,

Excellent! Wonderful job. The eyes really capture her beauty. Her lips and the flesh tones are excellent!!

Though the eyes are done really well, the drawing seems to be off a little. Her right eye (the one on the left) seems to be just a hair too high... or maybe its the jaw line... I'm not sure. Could you post the original photo?

I've noticed a lot of wonderful portraits posted in the forums have slight drawing errors that keep them from being truly great.

My old art teacher used to tell me that the drawing was the most important aspect of the painting, the foundation and without it the rest isn't worth doing.

John

Sandy Barnes · 05-29-2002, 06:55 AM

Virginia, I love it too. She is a beautiful girl and I'm sure her parents will be very pleased with this portrait. The likeness is right on target and your skintones are beautiful. What colors did you use for her skin?

Mary Sparrow · 05-29-2002, 07:14 AM

I agree, it is beautiful..I also agree with you that her shoulders seem a little small, and I think that her eyes are fine, but maybe it is the reflection in our left eye that is a bit off. Minor fixes. Again, it is BEAUTIFUL!

Virginia Branch · 05-29-2002, 09:26 AM

Thank you for your comments...it really helps to read what others see that I might miss. I am still looking at her eye and trying to figure what is wrong. If I post the photo maybe then someone can tell me definitely. Also, you'll see how her shoulders look.

Lon, as always, thank you for your comments! As for the underpainting...I liked doing it this way for a commissioned portrait. You get your drawing and tones out of the way so then you can concentrate on color, temperature etc. For whatever reason, my skin colors seem more life-like on this one vs. some others. It is just a different approach. It is definitely more time consuming to do a complete underpainting but I think it was worth it.

Cynthia Daniel · 05-29-2002, 09:53 AM

Virginia,

With my graphics program, I superimposed the photo over the painting and found what I thought was true from eyeballing it. The right shoulder (as the viewer) is a bit high compared to the photo. I couldn't really tell on the other shoulder because both are so light.

Peggy Baumgaertner · 05-29-2002, 10:03 AM

The light source is coming from the upper right, and you've quite nicely rounded out the three dimensional shape of her head. However, on the left side edge of her face, by the ear, and especially on the chin, you've placed a lighter line, a highlight, almost, where there should actually be a cool turning edge.

You might be indicating reflected light, but, the reflected light in a shadow is the same value as the shadow, just a different color and a different intensity. You have crossed the line and made the reflected light a light value instead of a middle value. Your eye sees this lighter line, and wants to bring that portion of the form forward. Instead of the chin rounding back, it juts out. The line of the jaw may be dead on correct, but the jaw looks more prominent because that white highlight fools your eye.

Additionally, highest contrast, detail, and crispness of line should be on those portions of the painting that are closest to the viewer (this subject's eyes and nose). The lowest contrast, detail and crispness should be on those portions of the painting which are furthest away, (this subject's ear and side of the head.) In this case, there is too shape a line between the face and the hair. This line is also too dark, especially in reference to the too light reflected light on the side of her face and the lighter background value.

It has taken me far longer to explain the fix than it would be for you to do it, but basically, I would darken slightly the background on the left side of the girls head, soften the edge between the background and hair, the hair and the side of the face, darken the reflected light on the side of the face (just a hair....) and eliminate the highlight on the edge of the chin. All this would continue the nice, three diminutional rounding you have very successfully accomplished in the front and right side of the head.

Peggy

Virginia Branch · 05-29-2002, 10:56 AM

Cynthia, thanks for the info. Would love to be able to manipulate Photoshop to superimpose images (what program did you use?)! Indeed, if I lower that shoulder, her neck will not appear as short.

Peggy, I admire your work and know you have a good eye so I am taking your advice to heart and have learned something in the process about soft edges, reflected light in shadow etc. Will continue with the portrait and see what happens. Thank you so much!!