Angel

[Mai Ly]

Hello Everyone,

This is my latest work-in-progress of Kathryn, my 5-year-old daughter. I have had help from Karin Wells with the glazing part, and much help from Chris Saper for the composition, and now I am 'moving on up' to the critique section!

For this painting, I glazed the skintones, painted semi-opaque for the dress and cushions and painted directly on the background, mixing paint directly on the canvas. It is about two-third finished. The dress is still very unfinished. I have yet to fix the hat, and go back on all the areas with the detailed work at the end.

I would like to have some feedback from everyone, especially on the following:

1. The girl's left eye. Does it still look wrong? I fix the eyewhite and thought that it looked alright until I posted it on here, and it looks funny to me again.

2. Is the reflected light on her left cheek too much? I am not sure if it is something with the Photoshop, but in real life it does not look that strong.

3. How is my overall design? Do the patterns on the cushions and background make it look too busy? I actually 'borrowed' the idea of the curtain background from Sargent's 'Lady Agnew', and incorporated designs of my own on it.

4. I am still working on my edges. Do they look ok?

5. I have tried to tone down the hat with reflected light from objects around the hats (I don't know if you can see from the picture here), but does it still look too white/harsh?

6. Should I crop the right side in a bit, so that the edge touches the flower on the curtain. I am not sure if the light edge on the right hand side (as it is right now) is distracting.

I can't think of anything else to ask, but would appreciate it if anyone will point out to me anything that need improvement.

Sincerely,

Mai

Here is the full painting in progress. It is size 20x24, oil on linen.

[Mai Ly]

Sorry, I forgot to attach the painting. Here is the close up again:

[Jean Kelly]

Hi Mai, this is coming along beautifully. You're really creating a piece that will give you joy for the rest of your life.

The first thing I noticed, was the angle of the sofa back. It points downward in line with the rose cushion. I believe that it takes the eye right out of the picture. I'm not sure how you would fix it, I'm sure someone will step in to comment. Her left eye is still too bright, just a little more will do it.

I love looking at this. She is wonderful.

Jean

[Mai Ly]

Jean,

Thank you for the kind words. I am very lucky to have my daughter, who is always willing to sit for me.

I have tried to tone down her left eye and fix her left side of the face. I think the painting looks a bit better now.

I am not sure what you meant about the back of the chair. Do you mean the black rail of the settee?

I am now working on the dress and go over the hat again. Hopefully, it will look better after that.

Regards,

Mai

[Jean Kelly]

Hi Mai,

The line I'm talking about is on the right side, under the oriental flowering tree. (the top of the settee) It seems to run downhill, parallel to the same line of the skirt on the right. I think the back of the settee should be straighter, instead of sloping downward. I believe this may be a dreaded "tangent", and may be why my eye is drawn right out of the picture. Does this help?

Jean

[Enzie Shahmiri]

Mai Ly, your daughter is beautiful and the painting is coming along very nicely.

I only wonder about the highlight on the upper and lower lip. I am going to exaggerate now, it sort of looks like they are remnants of a milk mustache. Please don't be offended, I only mean to point out why it is bothering me. That light area seems to follow the lips continously and should be less noticeable. See if others agreee, before you make changes.

You accomplished the turn of the arm wonderfully and her hands below the sheer fabric turned out very nice as well.

[Mai Ly]

Thanks Jean for pointing out the back of the chair for me. It is meant to be straight. I think the way I painted had accidentally given it a sloping look. I will straighten it up.

Thank you, Enzie for your feedback. The contrast on my daughter's lips stand out a bit in real life too. Maybe I exaggerated it too much in the painting. I will see about softening it down a bit.

Don't worry about offending me, so long it is my painting that you are 'attacking' and not me. The purpose of it being posted here is to be critiqued, anyway.

Thanks,

Mai

[Mai Ly]

Hello Everyone,

I have now completed Angel and moved it to the Unveilings section.

Thanks everyone for your kind feedback.

Jean, I think I have fixed the chair problem.

Enzie, I tried to tone her lips down a bit. I hope that it is better now.

Thanks again,
Mai