[PetrStranik]

Hi there Garyartista. The first thing that I noticed when I saw your reference – soft light (hard to render, subtle value changes – I think It would be great to try to do a portrait drawing from it in a style of Fechin. As your acrylic painting goes I would suggest to make transitions softer and try to turn form with temperature changes. For example her forehead feels just like one forwardly placing plane which is not the case. If you look closely her forehead turns to the left by changing it’s value (ever so slightly) darker and little bit more cooler. I guess Acrylic does not lend itself to soft light handling since it dries almost instantly. I would want to have it wet as long as possible so I can adjust edges easily so I would choose Oils over acrylic.. (I would crosscheck with Jeremy Lipking work)

I think you also forgot to put darkest accents – e.g under her chin and alongside the forehead where it meeds the hair. Hair are also more brownish not so golden which would put more believability to the work.

Regards

Petr

[PetrStranik]

Hi there!! I think that a main thing is that I don’t know what’s the focal point. Is it a glass with water or that pear? I admire your bravery to go for such a subtle light – soft light. I think you would do yourself better to use strong directional source of light to achieve more distinct chiaroscuro to render. Also a lot of white objects (cloth and wall) do not make things easier and lend themself for mudding up the colours.

Down below is from three years back. Try same objects but under a warm light with direction to have the job easier.

https://petrstranikart.blogspot.com/2017/04/still-life-petes-essentials.html

Petr

[PetrStranik]

You got that on point Joshua about the delivery of the blow. I think that this is the main issue that’s missing here. That’s the main plot that I guess should be obvious and other things should be subsidiary to it…

[PetrStranik]

Hi there, I like it – Steveny Hustony so to speak. I think maybe getting rid of the shaft of light in the bottom right corner would bring more attention to the impact area. It is a bummer that is out of focus that way I could speak more to the rendering. But from what I see I feel like you have a great understanding how to use chiaroscuro effect to your advantage and you can skilfully emphasise core shadows where’s needed. Maybe i would play down the creases in the drapery. i thing it is popping too much forward. Nice lost and found edges and understanding of anatomy. Maybe I would suggest to move the elbow of the left guy in order to avoid tangency…

 

Regards Petr

[PetrStranik]

Portrait of my good friend from life. Do you see place to improve? (proportion to check? How to improve pencil marks etc…)

 

 

[PetrStranik]

another portrait of a friend from life. unfortunately I have not shoot a picture with him. It is only the final artwork. (What would you improve on? Marks, expression, somethng of with proportion, value distribution?)

[PetrStranik]

Portrait of my dear friend from life. Critique would be more than appreciated. (proportion check, improving pencil marks etc…)

Regards , Petr

 

[PetrStranik]

Done from our NMA library. Critique would be more than welcome!!! Oil on linen roughly 20×12 inches

• This reply was modified 4 years, 1 month ago by PetrStranik.

[PetrStranik]

Thanks you all!

I thing you both nailed it. I haven’t thought about the lighting and you are right, hannah, it is confusing not to say that the raising sun is the third source! I tried to crop (sorry is low res) it and maybe it helped a little and maybe I try to glaze down the hand as you haggiben suggested. Thank you both!

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