Baby Johann

Julie Gerleman · 02-05-2005, 11:00 PM

Hi there!

This 9x11 portrait of Johann is the first oil baby portrait I have done. So far, it's going pretty well, considering I am still learning the ins and outs of my new Finepix S7000 and the final photograph his parents and I both agreed upon has some very distinct contrasts (still learning about lighting and photography, too!) I'm happy with the way the foundation is laid out and feel that the drawing and details are strong so far. But due to the photograph, I find it necessary to fudge some of the color details and to even out the contrast just a bit. I would say I am 3/4 of the way there, meaning this is the perfect time for me to welcome any insights, digital manipulations or observations any are willing to offer. Thanks so much, in advance, for your time.

Alice Leggett · 02-06-2005, 01:06 AM

Hi Julie;
I think the portrait is going well so far! I like to adjust the photo in Photoshop. I selected the highlights with the magic wand and darkened them, also added yellow for warmth (in the variations menu). Then I selected the rest of the face and lightened the shadows. Also, I feathered the selections 6 pixels before making the changes. That makes a soft transition. I hope it helps you finish this cutie. (Or should I say Kewpie Doll?)

Terri Ficenec · 02-06-2005, 01:23 AM

Hi Julie,

Your reference photo is extremely contrasty, and has a large area of white out (There is no detail in the white areas even if you darken the image.) This makes it problematic to work from. In the image of your painting that you've posted, I think you've got a patch on the forehead and into the eye area that is too dark because you are following this poor reference too closely (or having a hard time adapting it). In the attached, I used the histogram function in Paint Shop Pro to swing the middle values MUCH lighter. This may help some, but still doesn't help the white out problem on the bright side of his head. (In reality I'm sure you'd see distinctions there that help define the form.)

When you work from a faulty reference like this, it makes a lot of extra work, guessing at what it really should look like... it is so worth getting a good reference in the first place!

Good luck with this--

Julie Gerleman · 02-06-2005, 11:01 AM

Thanks, Alice and Terry. I guess I'll have to learn photoshop or just get better at taking photos (I'll bet there's tons of info already posted that can help me there). This helps immensely for the shadowed areas and I guess I can probably find other photos in the lot I took that will help inform me about the highlighted areas. But this already makes a huge difference -- thanks.

Patricia Joyce · 02-08-2005, 09:59 AM

Julie I like what you have started and am interested in watching the progression.

And I think I need to go to school to learn Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro. How do you two DO THAT???

Alice Leggett · 02-08-2005, 12:23 PM

I think PhotoShop is essential for portrait artists. My 30 years as a graphic artist, the last 16 on the computer, have helped to learn photo manipulation. I compose photos together, change backgrounds, resize and move elements around, manage cropping, color, value and sometimes detail issues before picking up a brush! Furthermore, I like to show the client the results of the computer layout for approval before painting. Saves revisions at the end of the project! Most of what I've learned about PhotoShop has been by just doing it, but there are one-day workshops and books by Scott Kelby (http://www.photoshopuser.com/) and I'm sure some local classes at colleges and private institutions, as well as online tutorials. I'm happy to answer questions if anyone on the forum needs help.

Jen Reinstadler · 02-09-2005, 10:12 PM

I have worked as a graphic designer, too, but I never did get too proficient with Photoshop. It's a very deep program. Now I have a computer at home, and I can't afford all the high power software. I have found that even the software that came with my basic Microsoft package works pretty well. It is set up similarly to Photoshop (though sadly lacking in keyboard shortcuts and it tends to crash more frequently). So you could play with whatever photo-editing software you have and get moderately good results.

Alice Leggett · 02-11-2005, 05:31 PM

Yes, if you are adjusting brightness and contrast in general, the simplified programs will do. I'm not familiar enough with them to give advice, but it never hurts to experiment on a copy of the file.

How's the portrait coming, Julie?

Julie Gerleman · 02-16-2005, 11:50 PM

Sorry it's taken me awhile...I actually used some pto today and took the day off of work so I could work on THIS for awhile...isn't that just silly? But I haven't had a chance to work on it since I posted last...

I was able to lighten the photo in photoshop, but then I had to mess with the RGB vs. CYMK settings to get the color separation right for printing, etc. etc. It helped to have that lighter reference around.

I'm pretty happy with this so far. I think I've got about one more sit with this then I'm going to call it done, lest I the little guy. I'm not really happy yet with his right eye, so I've still got to resolve that. It helped just to turn the reference and the painting upside down and relearn how to see his face. I felt like I was getting tight and making prejudgments about what I was seeing. I got some super-soft brushes, and some Graham Walnut Alkyd so I could glaze and blend a little better. I really love the alkyd - it dries quickly, non-toxic and just makes the paint like butter. I'm really glad I read about it. Besides the eye, I think I've got some of the go back in on some of the highest highlights and the darkest shadows, but I don't think I'll paint again until I've had a chance to look at it for awhile.

Thanks for looking and thanks for all of your comments -- they really helped!

Julie

Julie Gerleman · 02-16-2005, 11:51 PM

His irises look really funny to me all of a sudden! Guess I'll add those to my list of things to touch up!