Intuition

[Kimberly Dow]

I'm calling this is done. 30x20" oil on panel.

Until I can get it in a frame and on the wall, I cant seem to get a straight on photo. The window frame is perfectly equal on both sides if you can imagine that.

As always, thank you for the comments and suggestions from the WIP section.

[Lacey Lewis]

I can't say how attached I've become to this painting! I watched it all through the WIP, and I am happy that you went back to the window. I think you have it just perfect now.

I just love everything about it, the colors, the moody look on her face, the vintage dress... I can't think of anything to say that expresses how I feel without sounding goofy so I will have to stop there.

[Kimberly Dow]

Thank you Lacey, that's very kind. But please, feel free to get goofy anytime.

[Linda Brandon]

I like this very much, Kim; the color, mood and composition make this an interesting painting, pulling in the viewer.

I have a feeling that part of your problem is your camera lens when you take your photos of your work. What is your system (how far back are you when you take your shot, for example) and what kind of camera do you have?

[Lisa Ober]

Kim! What a great finish! I was a nervous wreck watching you change that background but it was worth it. The marriage of the colors throughout this painting? Perfect. It sure does have a mood, doesn't it?

I know there is a thread somewhere (Garth Herrick?) about perfectly porportioned photos but you have to have Photoshop. I will happily repost these directions on perfect resizing without glare if you just say the word. I just didn't want to hijack your thread without permission. I can even PM them to you. Changed my life because it allows you to take photos from an angle and avoid glare completely!

One thing I have heard is that if you use a camera with a zoom lens, back up and increase the zoom almost as much as you can. That will help avoid that fish bowl phenomenon.

Again, I loved the way this painting finished.

EDIT! Do we have the best luck or what? Right after I submitted this (one second later), there was a reply on the thread so I know which one it is that gives directions on the resizing issue. Here it is:

Removing Keystoning

[Kimberly Dow]

Linda & Lisa,

Thanks. I dont have a system for photographing, that works anyway. I've tried everything I''ve read here though. Tricia posted a link to Garth's post about fixing this problem, so I'll spend some time reading that and seeing what I can do. In the meantime, here is a shot on the easel, bad lighting and all...

[Allan Rahbek]

Originally Posted by Kimberly Dow

The window frame is perfectly equal on both sides if you can imagine that..

Kim,
try to point the camera to the middle of the painting at a 90 degree direction, both vertical and horizontal.
If the painting was hanging on the wall, perfectly vertical, you could measure the hight from the floor to the middle and walk back to take the shot.
When the panting is leaning back on the easel you will have to hold the camera at a position higher than the middle of it, just like you did, but not THAT high.
By the way, I like this painting very much. I think of it as the Autumn Girl because of the colors.

Allan

[Enzie Shahmiri]

I like the background and the way you have handled her dress very much and as Allan said the image fits "autumn girl". Nice!

[Terri Ficenec]

Hi Kim,

I'm so glad you put the window back in. It really adds to the moodiness and mystery. This turned out really well! (And the shot on the easel really gives a nice feel for the piece)

For the photography side of things... if you're having trouble getting the camera exactly square and you're shooting with a tripod and your camera has a zoom, the zoom lens can really help to line things up. If you get the camera straight out along the midline of the painting, first you can adjust the side-to-side angle of the camera and check that it's right by zooming in until each of the top and bottom edges of the painting just touch and are parallel with the top and bottom edges of the camera's viewfinder. So now the horizontal angle of the camera is correct. Then you can adjust the vertical tilt of the tripod (adjust the height crank if necessary!) and check it by zooming in until the left and right edges of the painting line up with the left and right sides of the viewfinder frame. . . so now you've got vertical tilt right... Zoom back and forth between the top/bottom and right/left edges to make sure all 4 are square (because sometimes tweaking one messes up the other Adjust just the zoom to frame the shot the way you want it and take the picture.
(If that's all too much information in this thread, let me know, I'll zap it out! )

[Kimberly Dow]

Thanks everyone. I don't mind the photography tips here either. I will get it eventually with all this help!