CRITIQUE 6 - PORTRAIT Tips

images below are copyright protected to Artist and are not for use other than in this post as a learning tool.

Alice, Very nice likeness and sketching! You have created a very nice portrait with feeling! Just a few small tweaks might add to it's persona. I will offer general tips and ideas and also give some ideas that are specific to this drawing, Hope it helps - and - Thank you for allowing me to critique your portrait! cj

CRITIQUE:

I began by changing the color photo to grayscale in photoshop. This way, it is easier to see what is color and what is actual value change.

TIP:  A good idea with any painting or sketch is when you think you are finished, turn both the painting and the resource photo upside down and then on its edge and see how it looks. By turning the image, you stop seeing it as a person you know, a mouth, a nose and start seeing it more abstractly as shapes and values. Turned, you are more likely to spot if something is a bit off kilter, etc.

You have the eyes quite well and they are captivating for the viewer - and quite recognizable as the person you are drawing - so you already have your viewer at the eyes! Some hair out of place, etc is not important. However other major facial features are the next concern after the eyes.

TIP: Measure an eye in the original photo - then use it as a base for marking off distance and spacing for all other facial features in that particular face IN THE PHOTO. THEN - measure the same eye in your drawing and make the same spacing measurements on the drawing. This will make sure you have features properly sized and spaced. IF your drawing is the same size as the image in your photo, then you can apply the photo measurements to the drawing too.

TIP: when you feel your portrait is complete, set it aside for a few days, covered. THEN without looking at it, (don't peek!) set it up in an area that you might come around a corner and see it- and walk away without looking! .... I know it sounds crazy, but trust me...   When you are surprised later by walking into the view of the piece, it will be like seeing it for the first time.

If anything is "off" you will see it in that first glimpse and as you walk closer to the piece. Artists will do these things to get a fresh view or perspective on their own artwork. Even viewing it in a mirror or taking a photo and printing it out are good tools for a fresh view.

WORD OF WARNING about PHOTOS - "Photos lie!" Well.. ok, they don't always portray the actual truth of a subject. Where a photo might show a black area with no details might actually be not so black and full of details in person! So be aware that especially on a face - we do not have any detail-less black areas. - this comment is for artists trying to create a realistic looking portrait, not an abstraction, etc.

VALUE TIP: find the area on your portrait that is the darkest value and place it onto your drawing

Thank you for allowing me to critique your portrait - I hope these tips are helpful.

cj

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DISCUSSION PART 2:

Edits as made by Alice- great improvement!


CRITIQUE on edited image by CJ:

1. Continue to check for spacing placement and sizing of features. Use the original tip above about measuring an eye or some other strong feature to use as a measure in photo then in drawing to insure size and placement is correct.
2. Add more definition to chin with darker shading.
3. Widen throat area- measure it with the eye in the drawing and then with the same eye in the photo- did you find the same or different amount of eyes fit across the throat?
4. Add a dark center to the eye, then put in the light-source highlight. Your actual light source in this instance is not causing a highlight to the eyes that can be seen in this photo... In cases like this, I like to put one in anyway to add a sparkle to the eye. As you progress with your portraits you will learn to make the eyes look moist, etc. Make sure the light source is the same in each eye!
5. note that center line of teeth usually is near the center of the bottom of the nose.

TIP: Line up the photo and the drawing evenly... lay a small ruler on the angle of the mouth, nose edges, (or whatever) in the photo, lay another small ruler on the drawing.. is the angle the same?

End critique-

Your hard work is really paying off! Congratulations! Great looking portrait!
cj

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CRITIQUE 5 - De-clutter Photo

images below are copyright protected to Artist Karen Sliwinski and are not for use other than in this post as a learning tool.

Karen stated that when turning her photo into a painting there were so many componants that it was difficult to discern the center of interest. She also asked about value variation.
  
ORIGINAL UNFINISHED PAINTING BY KAREN:
Looks GREAT! Love the way you are painting the figures as well as the foliage!


CRITIQUE:
First task is to clear away some of the distractions and see what remains.


ABOVE: Removed extras and added foliage vingette on lower right edge - but note how the tree trunks come to an end right between the man and woman. Even though they are small, the woman's face is important. it is very detracting to have her facial profile lining up with the tree edge. Also, the base of the tree creates a line of sight across her neck, visually decapitating her.

Do not place strong value changes (or light against dark) in areas that are not your main focal point. The viewers eye will be distracted by high contrasting values, colors details and so on.

BELOW: remove distant point, and tree trunk between people - some subtle left edge tree trunks could probably be left in - I would also soften that tree behind the umbrella.

 If what you liked about the original photo was the tree-lined path, then all would have to again be reconsidered. ;)


Critique of Karen's original photo:

ORIGINAL PHOTO:

The photo is very busy with objects and contains many paths leading the eye in several directions through their value or vibrant color.
EXAMPLES:

1. One point perspective tree'd path (in high contrast) leading to far back area of image
2. Another light path between paying man and booth leading to rear area of image.
3. Many subjects and many vivid colors all demanding equal attention.
   

Photo CRITIQUE:


Karen, Thank you for allowing me to critique your photo and artwork in progress! Your painting skills are fab!
cj

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CRITIQUE 4 - Cassie Dog

images below are copyright protected to Artist Jan Stickland and are not for use other than in this post as a learning tool.

Besides a general critique, Jan inquired about what texture and colors can be added to the black fur. The colors used in the light fur are yellow ochre, burnt sienna and white.  

ORIGINAL PAINTING by Jan Stickland:

Actually, a very lovely painting as is!  Such a cute pooch!  This is Cassie!

ORIGINAL PHOTO





CRITIQUE:
Details - In any painting, the first thing I consider is the placement of components in relationship to the overall object and in relationship to each other.  Keep re-checking as you paint to make sure shapes and angles remain as you intend.  

  

A dogs face can be very difficult due to foreshortening of the muzzle, shading, unfamiliar angles, etc..

Another issue is to make the dog look aged. hard sharp lines make the face appear younger, soft sagging lines give the appearance of age. Also a few gray hairs around the muzzle.
 
I often say "if you get the eyes right, much else will be forgiven" So if the eyes are on target, the viewer will not care if you miss a speckle or spot here and there! lol Jan did a marvelous job on the eyes - so alive and right to Cassie's character!
 
After the eyes, I would pay close attention to the shape of the black part of the nose, the muzzle and the shape of the white spot draping across the muzzle. The dogs lips also offer much insight and are an added bonus to further understanding Cassie's character.
 
I determined that the upper paw in the original painting detracted from the facial portrait so I moved down a bit, to be less of a focal issue. The lower edge of the dog's legs and body would appear more natural if softened and with more shading. Added detailing and shading on the cushion would add to the illusion she is set down into the surface.
 
For fur, I would first lay in the light and dark areas with whatever color you are using or burnt umber with a dark blue, maybe a squeak of black. As long as you establish the lights and darks that create the curves of the body. You can glaze these over the existing dark color so they blend nicely into each other along the edges and do not make spots. It may take several glazing layers to reach desired results. Then, you can dry brush in fur on top in a slightly darker or lighter value. I might experiment with some mauves and blues in the white and also the ochre and dark areas - just to break up the very yellow, ochre and dark dark darks... lol
 
A black or white object has much reflected color in it - so for instance, in the white chest, could have some blues, pinks violets etc all the while, the overall look is "white"

Thank you so much for allowing me to critique your painting -
Best Regards, CJ Rider

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CRITIQUE 3 = Ocean and Beach

images below are copyright protected to Artist Ann Cam and are not for use other than in this post as a learning tool.

The main question artist Ann Cam asked is "When can you look at a painting and say it is done?"  While happy with the overall look of the painting, Ann wondered if it needed a few more elements, like a few birds, or a lone figure.

 ORIGINAL PAINTING by Ann Cam:

 
CRITIQUE:
As to the question when is a painting done... I always jokingly say "A painting is "done" in the last 10 to 15 minutes... ;)

But seriously, when you run your compositional, color, value, etc, checklists and are satisfied ... it could be done... for now anyway. 

However, as you progress as an artist you will look back at past artworks and see things you can add to sparkle it up.  So months or years later you might see how lopsided something is, or too centered, incorrect values, not detailed enough, and so on.

So, when is a painting finished?  In the last 10 or 15 minutes of painting!  Whenever that may be.    ;)



We learn from our experiences, so as we practice our skills "done" will hold a different meaning today than it did a month, or even a few days ago.

Ann's painting just needs a few touches to make it feel more finished as noted in the images below. 

To keep the eye on the canvas- slightly vignette the edges by softening forms/lines and in this case, toning down the value/lightness of said element.

For instance: see how the wave and lines (lower left) soften and are not so bright as the reach the edge of the canvas.  This will stop the eye from being lead off the canvas.  Same goes with the horizon line, I would soften and lighten it as it reached the left edge of the canvas instead of running it to the edge.

Below is an example with figure to add a human element to the painting.



Thank you for allowing me to critique your artwork.
It has been a pleasure.
CJ

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CRITIQUE 14 - Beginning Landscapes- help getting started

QUESTION:

CJ, my problem is landscapes... I never really got into them.
Oils especially....any good exercises or ideas- P.S> I am not really a detail painter...sort of..also am a grad. of Ringling School of Art and design so I know quite a bit about design, comp.,
just those boring landscapes lol Help!
C 

ANSWER:
Do some research before painting landscapes for the first time or if you find you are painting boring or lifeless landscapes.

*Familiarize yourself with landscape paintings, compositions, colors, etc:

1. Check out contemporary and old master paintings - decide what type of landscape scenes you are attracted to.
2. Do you like more abstracted, impressionistic or photo real.
3. Study what it is you like about your favorite landscape paintings and try to get that "wow" factor into your paintings.

*Familiarize yourself with your desired medium

1. practice mixing the colors that you responded to in your favorite landscape paintings.
2. after you can re-create your desired colors - it helps to paint a page of cloud like structures and use all of the colors that you selected.
   *See how they look side by side
   *See how they look slightly intermingled
   *See how they look, one glazed over another

*Practice with the paint until you have good clean color and understand how the colors interact with one another. Don't think landscape... yet.

*Any good painting begins with a good drawing. Poor composition can ruin a painting with perfect color notes. So understand good composition be it for an abstract or realistic landscape.

1. Sketch out several thumbnails of possible compositions
2. if you are painting from photos - have large clear photos
3. Take many photos close up and far away.

PHOTOS For Reference:

1. Do not slavishly paint from a photo.
2. Remember that the camera "lies" - a black shadow in the photo has loads of detail in real life, that is, when you are actually standing there at the scene
3. Make sure you understand what distortions the camera creates in your scene as to color, value, loss of detail, point of interest, and more
4. Make some sketches while taking your photos
5. Make note of what you found interesting and why you took the photo to begin with.

Click here -->>CHECK OUT THE DESERT SCENE CRITIQUE where a landscape photo was explored for a painting.

 Thanks for asking!
CJ

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CRITIQUE 1 - desert scene - composition

images are copyright protected to the individual and are not for use other than in this post as a learning tool.

 

Desert Scene:  Working out a composition

(above) Original Photo of desert area with wheel dominating the scene. Wall blocks viewers eye from easily passing through to the upper portion of the scene.

 

Artist would like to paint this historic scene and does not have the opportunity to re-shoot image - So here are a couple of options in keeping with the integrity of the sceen.

 

 

 

This artist only inquired about composition for this critique session

 

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ACRYLIC PAINT PROPERTIES -tips

 

1. ACRYLIC PAINT DRIES VERY FAST!!

Acrylic paint will sometimes dry faster than you can paint!

• don't paint in a draft
• don't paint in the sun
• don't paint near heat or air conditioning vent

 You can remedy fast drying by using an 'acrylic retarder medium' product that slows the drying time. Don't overdo it though, or you will end up with a painting that stays tacky too long!

Have a fine-mist spray bottle handy to spray a light mist of water over your palette and on the area you are working to keep the paint moist.  Keep it very light so the paint does not run.
        2.  ACRYLIC PAINT CHANGES COLOR WHEN DRY
You will find out early on that acrylic paint appears darker when it is dry.  To understand why, take a look at some acrylic "medium"  note how it is milky white when wet, but dries clear? Acrylic paint has this medium like product in it to make it flow and to float the pigment in. As a pigmented acrylic color dries this "medium" also dries and becomes clear allowing more of the pigment to show through thus making the color appear darker.

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