8 x 10 Oil on Canvas
The second Wednesday of each month our critique group, a number of serious award winning artists sharing helpful hints and suggestions, meets for an informal review of the each others works in progress. All intermediate artists are invited and newcomers are given more gentle positive critiques than those of us who want to be hit with all suggestions as to areas that are working and those that might be improved upon. Each artist must evaluate suggestions and decide whether or not he/she agrees and take it from there.
I was aware the circled areas were really bothersome before the critique group got hold of Bruce. First of all, the green is "foreign" to the painting but wanted that color reflected in the glasses. The shape of the green color lined up with and repeated the shoulder shadow shape. Baaaaad...however, I waited to change it until after critique in case there were other needed fixes I didn’t see. My solution - for the moment at least - has been to paint out the green and maybe that draws more attention to Bruce’s face? He enjoys riding in the country exploring back roads and I felt the green expressed that... so it’s still in the glasses. And, know what? Maybe I would like a little of it back in the painting ...so...you may see this one more time! I will be more careful of the shape and the color! Am thinking about painting this "larger than life" - 24" x 30" just for Bruce and for the drama!
This painting is amazing , yes the circled details , before and after did matter.I just loved the way you have painted the beard.
ReplyDeleteThis piece is just too good.
Wow, Rosemary, this portrait is spectacular. You've rendered him so realistically and his whiskers are absolutely perfect. Love the reflection in his glasses. Yep, taking out that patch of green was a good decision. Great job!!
ReplyDeleteFinished! (Better without the green. It could still be in his glasses as that what's he's looking At, not what's behind him.)
ReplyDeleteWhy stop at 24" x 30"? How about, oh, I don't know, 30" x 40"? 40" x 60"? 4' x 8'? He has a monumental feel. Think Chuck Close scale.
Wowwwwwwwwwwwww............Spectacular! I am speechless... You are masters in realistic paintings. I am many times confused to see in thumbnail that are they photographs or your paintings? :)
ReplyDeleteDear Rosie, This may be your best portrait yet, although I don't see how they could get better. This one is SUPERB.I tend to agree with your Wednesday group and think that the painting is now finished. Congratulations. Way to go. Can't wait to see your next portrait. Silvia
ReplyDeleteI'm torn on this one, Rosemary. The 2nd one gives you a worm's eye view, and Bruce appears more awesome and powerful, filling all the space. However, the green hillside, the green glasses and the greenish shadow forms a nice triangle to frame his face in the 2nd one and your riding on the same level as Bruce. I think both are great!!!
ReplyDeleteRishi & Lokelani, thank you both so much! I really appreciate your input!
ReplyDeleteThank you R! I appreciate the encouragement to go bigger! Am eager to start on this! I think it's pretty unanimous the green behind was not needed. Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comments!
ReplyDeleteMegha and Silvia, I can depend on you to to make my day! Thank you both so much! Funny how much more comfortable I am with portraits than landscapes, etc. So challenging but just can't stop painting them!
ReplyDeleteOh Pat, you picked up on my dilemma! When I do the larger portrait, an element may be needed behind him but not the same shape and size as the shoulder shadow! Thanks so much for taking a look and sharing your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteRosemary, don't know if this is too late or not, but was wonderfully amazed to study this portrait. Words just escape me to describe what joy it gives to spend time with it.
ReplyDeleteYou ask about the green. Personally, I like the rule of using a color in at least 3 places thruout a painting. Some obvious, others not so obvious. So I like the green over his shoulder, but how about making it all trees w/o the ground space? And of course changing the shape to be diff. from left shoulder shade. I think it grounds him and gives more definition to his right white shoulder. Then you say where to put 3rd green. Green, very slight, could be worked into the shadings on his shirt. Thus tying all colors to each other. Well, just my opinion.
A masterful rendering of this man!
Ruth, I just found your comments...I'm really slow with blogging this entire month! Thanks so very much for taking the time to study the painting and I will take your observations/suggestions to heart when I start the large one! Really appreciate your ideas!
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