Self-Portrait

Terri Ficenec · 07-16-2006, 12:18 PM

Piety -- I just loved how you've handled the skin! (agree that that shoulder is coming forward a bit though. . .) Beautiful work and composition!

Piety Choi · 07-17-2006, 08:43 PM

Thank you Kim, Mischa, Alex and Terri for your warm encouragements!

I know and agree with Mischa's mention about using a photo as a reference. There are many shortages to be painted from photos. But in many case, we need to use photos.

I liked this pose to be painted, but I couldn't do it from a mirror. I might need several mirrors to make the set to get the reflection of this pose.

Thank you very much for looking and your sincere comments!

Piety

Pat Graham · 07-18-2006, 12:01 AM

I love the colors in your portrait, Piety - sort of warm and moody - and the pose and composition are very pleasing. The only 2 things I would do are: 1.) half way down the shirt sleeve to the bottom of the canvas blur the edges together more and more as you go down so that the eye isn't drawn out the bottom of your painting. 2.) Place your signature on the bottom left to give the painting better balance. Other than that, I wouldn't change a thing, it's lovely as it is.

Pat

Piety Choi · 07-18-2006, 11:43 AM

Hi, Pat! Thank you for your time and nice comments.

Piety

Enzie Shahmiri · 07-18-2006, 11:55 AM

Piety,

What a wonderful strong portrait! I second everything that Alexandra so nicely wrote. Don't be apologetic for using a photo as reference. You just proved that a skilled artist can render a beautiful portrait even from a photo reference. I don't see how this could have any more volume and great skin tones!

Piety Choi · 07-18-2006, 10:05 PM

Hi, Enzie!

Thank you so much for your time and warm encouragement!

I've attended lecture of Odd Nerdrum, one of living masters, last year. We had critique time with him. I brought "An Artist and his puppet" that was posted here before. He knew it was painted from a photo, then he said, "Throw it away!". Only reason he said like that was it was from the photo. Of course, we should better study from life as possible as we can, but good works are made by trained skill, talent, inspiration and full of committed loving heart for art whether we are using photo or life.

Piety

Alexandra Tyng · 07-18-2006, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piety Choi

Of course, we should better study from life as possible as we can, but good works are made by trained skill, talent, inspiration and full of committed loving heart for art whether we are using photo or life.

I agree.