Janice

Terri Ficenec · 12-15-2005, 12:33 AM

Jeff, I think you're being too hard on yourself. . . and maybe getting yourself psyched out. This is very nicely done.
I can't tell from your post whether you've made a lot of monochromatic starts like this and given up without feeling able to go further, or whether you've actually tried with color and been frustrated there? If it helps, start with a very limited palette like Alan suggested, but go ahead and jump in with the color!

Good Luck! (maybe sharing one of your color efforts in WIP would get you some help over whatever's getting you frustrated?)

Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco · 12-15-2005, 04:55 AM

Jeff, as for everyone else I think this is a terrific start, almost a completed painting in itself.
I would definetely go with Allan suggestion. Ask your wife to pose for you, too, if this was done from a photograph. If your tones (and temperature) are right, the hue in a sense can be less important. I am not very good ad judging the tones, so I take B&W photos of my painting and compare it to the reference in B&W.
If you add to this work some study on temperature as well as the tone you have already pinned down so convincingly, you will end up with a beautiful portrait without even realising it.
Post some more!
Ilaria

Claudemir Bonfim · 12-15-2005, 08:38 AM

Your drawing is very good. You can consider this piece finished, but if you want to go forward... go for it, it will be a great piece for sure.

Claudemir Bonfim · 12-15-2005, 08:40 AM

Remember, if you can draw, you can always paint.

Jeff Fuchs · 12-15-2005, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claudemir Bonfim

Remember, if you can draw, you can always paint.

Yes, I'm convinced of that. I have no doubts that I will be able to paint (hopefully paint well, but we'll see).

The last time I painted was 18 years ago. I only painted for a couple of months, but I went from complete inability to apply paint, to creating acceptable paintings in only a few weeks. This time it is much harder. This could be because of my advanced age (I'm 46 now) or, more likely, because I have filled my head with so much unapplied information, from art books, videos, and forums, that it's hard to put it all into my subconscience and just paint. I have so many techniques rattling around my brain, and I want to apply them, but without having tried any of them, my brain goes into meltdown.

I'll keep at it.

Kimberly Dow · 12-15-2005, 09:15 AM

This is a lovely piece Jeff!

Go forth and color!

Jeff Fuchs · 12-15-2005, 02:28 PM

I've been looking at William Whitaker's demos on his website, and I just may try to develop this a little at a time, and see if I can do it. He begins with a very detailed oil drawing.

If you thought my wife looked a little masculine, it seems I was a bit too generous with the jawline. It bothered me, but I wasn't sure what the problem was, so now that's been corrected. I moved the jawline just a little, but it seems to have made a big difference.