Children's portraits from life

[Linda Brandon]

Originally Posted by Michele Rushworth

I've seen artists set up a portabe DVD player behind their shoulder while painting kids from life. The kids watch a video while the artist paints. Keeps them mostly in the same spot. Perhaps you could pause the movie once in a while and ask them to look right at you for a few minutes while you paint their eyes.

I've done this. The problem is the look of drugged stupification that often settles onto the face. Relaxed, "good" expressions are some of the challenges of life work, though - with adults in a long open studio setting you will often see that "pinched, tortured" expression. With children especially, I try to keep things jolly.

Lovely drawing, Christy!

[Michele Rushworth]

The problem is the look of drugged stupification

Ah yes, good point. I've seen that look on my own kids' faces all too often!

[Christy Talbott]

Yes, I've had customers suggest I take their child's photo while watching the tv, and it never worked. "Drugged stupification" is a very apt description. But when you're not working on the face it might be a very good solution for some children.

Thanks so much everyone for offering suggestions. Mischa, it's a good idea about using teens; I might be able to find some in the neighborhood. In the meanwhile I'm using my own children. This is very humbling, I must say. I need to learn anatomy much better... You need to know anatomy, because when they're not still it's nearly impossible to draw the body otherwise. Linda and Michael and whoever else works this way, I admire you greatly! I've done a few more drawings, that I'm a little embarrassed to show, but I've committed myself to this! I'll start a new thread.

[Cecelia Cox]

Christy, I'm so glad you started this discussion as I'm trying to do the same thing. I looked at your website and your work is beautiful. I'm not brave enough to try children as young as the ones on your site, but I've been painting teenagers from life and am going to start on a 12 year old boy this week. It's very daunting. I've tried to work totally from life, but I'm starting to suplement with photos now. The trick for me will be to retain the freshness of working from life and not to rely on the photos too much. I look forward to seeing how things go with you!

Cecelia
www.ceceliacox.com

[Christy Talbott]

Cecelia, thanks for commenting. I took a look at your site too. You're work is beautiful!! I'm so impressed by all the life painting you've done, portraits, still lifes and landscapes. I've very little experience painting and even drawing from life. I'd love to do landscapes and still lifes as well; I'm sure the exercise would help my portrait work immensely. The problem is I'm backed up with children's portrait work. This is just one of the many reasons I'd like to be able to paint from life; I feel it'd be easier to keep from getting behind. Soon I'm going to attempt my first oil portrait of a child from life. I'll be painting a six year old girl. I'll post the results on the other thread I started for this, and most likely, the critique forum