Thanks so much for taking the time to look! I totally agree about the neck. I feel kind of sick about it at this point and am thinking of doing a neck job in addition to the nose job. It's funny how things look so innocuous and plausible in a reference photo, then when you get into painting it, they rear up like a giant sea monster from the deep, overpowering your painting.
When I started this painting, I had come to a sticking point on a full length portrait of my son, where I encountered a similar problem. I had realized that his arm and hand were in an awkward position for a portrait, even though the photo looked fine. I did a reshoot for better arm and hand references, but needed relief from working on the problem. So, I started this painting. Little did I know the problem was stalking me in a different guise!
The good news is that I am quickly developing an eye for these problems. I hope that by posting this in the forum, other student artists will learn from my mistakes. Having the opportunity to get help from experienced pros, like you and the others, is invaluable! Thank you.
Linear Mode
