Girl from Darfur

Enzie Shahmiri · 10-07-2007, 12:56 PM

I thought, I should take my own advise given in "Salon de Refus

Enzie Shahmiri · 10-07-2007, 03:11 PM

I have been working some more and here is another update...

Areas corrected:

hand - needed to get rounder
temple in shadow - lightened
nose - rounded more (still not happy though)
arm- rounded more (but uploaded image still looks flat)
side of nose - hot spot toned down in shadow
side of nose - value made lighter in lit area

Mischa Milosevic · 10-07-2007, 03:13 PM

Enzie, I visited your page sometimes today. I really liked what I saw. This evening, my time, this painting is in the critique section.

I quite like this painting and especially that you are doing this to help people in need.

I find this pose fascinating and I can see the attraction you have to it, knowing that you have a fascination for Oriental art..

I like what you have done so far. The background fits quite well. The red cloth works as well.

As for the portrait and the actual face it needs some drawing adjustments. I personally would start by re-defining all the shadow shapes of the face in value and actual shape. If you do this you will see where the drawing is off.

My monitor reeds green in the face. If you have the correct color/value you can add pink if you like if the color/value is correct. Can you see what I am saying? Also her skin is smooth even in the hands.

I hope I was able to help.
All the best to you

Christy Talbott · 10-07-2007, 03:23 PM

Hi Enzie, I think this is very nice work. The only thing I see that I think could use some adjustments is the flesh in the face. I see green in the face too, like Mischa.

The color in the hand is looking quite nice!

edit: Looking back once again I think some of the highlights on her shawl look chalky, losing too much chroma. Seeing that adjusted would be an improvement I think.

Enzie Shahmiri · 10-07-2007, 04:03 PM

Misha, you are absolutely correct, there are drawing errors, especially in the eyes. Thank you for pointing that out. I am going to do another run at the overlay in photoshop to see what else pops up.

Christy, yup I went overboard with my greens and agree that they need to be adjusted.

Thank you both for taking the time to look and offer critique. I have to clean my palette before I go any further. It's looking like a war zone!

I will post the adjustments as soon as they are fixed.

Julie Deane · 10-07-2007, 10:00 PM

I like the design and the colors, Enzie. I agree with the others that the face's drawing needs a recheck. That's a great hand, however!

All the building details in the background, while interesting, are a bit distracting. What about darkening them (or maybe just the roof) a few values so that the red of the dress and the face "pop" more?

If you darken the light value in the front post, which I feel is fighting for attention with the face, you will have achieved one front area (girl and post) and one background (building).Right now there are three areas (post/girl/background), and I think the post is winning.