Watercolor critique, please

Patt Legg · 04-02-2002, 03:08 PM

This is one of few watercolors that I have attempted in portraiture, actually character portraits. I find that I can stay more loose (maybe too much so) in watercolors as I tend to keep tighting up in oils. I have painted many years in oils and only a few in watercolors.
Mr. Spencer is a Blacksmith by trade, but I met him at a Flea Market as he caught me taking his picture. Upon being caught, I then approached him and he happily let me take others. I titled this "would ya take 5 bucks?" This has been shown many times and finally his wife bought it for him.

Question: I love being able to catch the "off guard" look in photos. If you approach them, they invariably will pose. Is this ok, to take pictures on the sly? I love doing figure paintings.

Patt

Patt Legg · 04-02-2002, 03:11 PM

By the way, I tried to "fix" the deep purples in his face via my scanning process. The deep purples nor the deep yellow are not nearly as prominent in the actual painting but it is kind of on the blue scale.

Patt

Cynthia Daniel · 08-01-2002, 04:41 PM

Patt,

I love the way you've captured the character in this man's face!

Patt Legg · 08-01-2002, 08:07 PM

Thanks Cynthia, that was very nice. I had nearly forgotten that I had posted it. I've laid my watercolors aside for now. The romance of the oil painting calls me constantly so, I hope to find that balance (and I know it is there) between the spontaneity of a watercolor and the fine-tuned realism of oils.

Thanks again,
Patt