Rosie and the Goose

[Mara Schasteen]

I am a little late in posting my critique, but I would like to add that I like the lighting better in your painting than in the photograph and I think you have really painted the subtle grays in the goose well. I agree with the need for tweaking facial features, but what stands out most to me is that I don't see an exciting difference between photo and painting. When using a photo reference, I like to improve the photo with artistic expression such as bold, simple brushwork (particularly in the background) and the use of various methods of applying paint to create different textures. Also, the whole photo need not be rendered.

I don't like working from photos, but I understand the need to do so better than anyone. More often than not, my opportunities to paint portraits are limited to short moments in my studio when I am not mothering four children. Most of the time, photos are all I have.

Overall, I feel that your painting would be more successful simplified, with less rendering of the background using fewer colors and toning those colors down quite a bit. You've signed this one and perhaps it is time to move on ... maybe you could get out another canvas and set yourself a timer and paint this one again really fast, just for fun! Big brushes and broad, simple planes of color ... less rendering of the entire photo and more focus on the purpose of the photo for an artist: to provide you information from which to choose the elements important to you and those which help to convey your message. It would be so fun and exciting to see what you could do with the freedom of departing from the photo and expressing your relationship with this beautiful girl with your brush.

Thanks for posting your painting!

[Linda Fox]

Thank you all so much. Excellent comments and suggestions. You have all made good points, and just looking at it on the monitor, I can see some things as well. I've had to put it aside for a little while, but may take it out and work some more. I can deal with the signature - I don't think it has to be the final stroke of paint as long as it's still in my hands. I may take your advice, Mara, and have another try at it as well.

[Laurel Alanna McBrine]

Hi Linda,

Congratulations on a beautiful painting that was clearly a lot of work.

I don't know if you will want to rework the painting, but the eyes seem a little too close together and the lips a little too narrow when compared with your reference photo. Also, both eyes and lips seem darker and more defined than in the reference photo. The other thing that jumps out at me is her hair is a little more bouffant in your painting than in the reference photo.

It is always easier to see these things in other people's work - comparing the mirror image to my own painting often helps me sort things out. Sometimes I have to move features around a few times. Very frustrating.

I have been wrestling with a mere head and shoulders and finally realized that I had the eyes too close together. I just spent a couple of hours this afternoon repainting, so I empathize greatly.