- Half of a double portrait

Home	- Half of a double portrait

Home The Artist Workshop Community Contact View Cart Newsletter

ALEXEI ANTONOV PAINTINGS

Subject: "Half of a double portrait"

Archived thread - Read only

Study and Teach Fine Art Techniques Charcoal and Pencil Drawings - Techniques by J.D. Hillberry Topic #137

Reading page 1 of 1 pages

WarHorseLover

Member since Aug-26-02
185 posts, 4 feedbacks,

Nov-12-02, 11:15 PM ()

Click to send private message to WarHorseLover

"Half of a double portrait"

Hi guys,
I am working on a portrait of my daughter and son for my parents for Christmas. I have been working on my daughter for about 6 hours and can't seem to get it to stop looking so flat. This is a digital photo of it so it lost a little detail. The drawing looks muddy when I try to darken the skin. Help! I don't want to start on the other half of the portrait until I have her nailed. Also her hair seems flat? Yes?

Equine and Western Art by: S. Baldwin

Bill_Johnston
Member since Nov-9-02
143 posts, 5 feedbacks,

Nov-13-02, 02:12 AM ()

Click to send private message to Bill_Johnston

1. "RE: Half of a double portrait"

Hi Stephanie, It looks like you have a wonderful start. I can't wait to see the finished drawing. It looks to me like you just need to add some depth by darkening some of the values (don't be afraid). I would start with the eyes. Once you have the eyes looking like they are looking back at you, you can use them as a reference for the values on the rest of her face. That is pretty much what I do, anyway. I hope this helps.

Bill

absolute

Member since Aug-24-02
895 posts, 12 feedbacks,

Nov-14-02, 00:49 AM ()

Click to send private message to absolute

2. "RE: Half of a double portrait"

hello steph,..the hair is looking great,...i usually go too dark on the face,some photo's really throw me off a lot...im not use to blending a lot,..but i am a copy cat for the most part...wich may be why i go too dark sometimes...i compare everything to the highlight of the eye...that is where i find the white of my paper..in the photo,...and then i try to decide how dark other parts of the skin and other things should be from that,.....i dont know if that will help any or not?sometimes depending on the light...shadows on the skin can be very dark,...sometimes it helps to compare the whites of the eye...to the skin,....to see if its a level or two darker,
but like i say...the more i draw ...the more confused i get sometimes.

www.geocities.com/woodart211

WarHorseLover

Member since Aug-26-02
185 posts, 4 feedbacks,

Nov-14-02, 01:09 AM ()

3. "RE: Half of a double portrait"

Thanks guys for your advice, here is an updated scan of the image. The scan again isn't great but you get a better idea. The size of Bristol board I'm working on is 14x17

Equine and Western Art by: S. Baldwin

Bella

Member since Sep-13-02
347 posts, 4 feedbacks,

Nov-14-02, 10:48 AM ()

4. "RE: Half of a double portrait"

Hi steph,
The drawing is coming along nicely.

I haven't attempted bristol board yet. I have just bought some watercolour paper...(Arches cold pressed).... I've just started a portrait and I love the feel of the paper!

He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.
St Fancis of Assisi

WarHorseLover

Member since Aug-26-02
185 posts, 4 feedbacks,

Nov-14-02, 02:55 PM ()

5. "RE: Half of a double portrait"

Quote I have just bought some watercolour paper...(Arches cold pressed).... I've just started a portrait and I love the feel of the paper!

Bella,
I used that paper on my last drawing. I loved the way it "grabbed" the graphite BUT it is NOT forgiving if you have to erase. Can't wait to see your work on it.

Equine and Western Art by: S. Baldwin

Bella

Member since Sep-13-02
347 posts, 4 feedbacks,

Nov-19-02, 02:34 PM ()

6. "RE: Half of a double portrait"

Hi Steph,
How is your double portrait coming along?, I'm going well with mine, I love arches cold pressed paper. My scanner isn't working so I can't show you my progress.

Thanks for the tip on erasing, it made me think very carefully before I applied graphite!

He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.
St Fancis of Assisi

WarHorseLover

Member since Aug-26-02
185 posts, 4 feedbacks,

Nov-19-02, 04:13 PM ()

7. "RE: Half of a double portrait"

Bella,
Well, I finished the half with my daughter and have only put in about an hour into my son. I've been busy in the yard and working with the horse's so I haven't really had any "art" time. I was just commissioned to do some horse portraits again so I guess I better make time. I'll work on the double again tonight and post an update. Can't wait to see your work on the cold press.
Steph

Bella

Member since Sep-13-02
347 posts, 4 feedbacks,

Nov-30-02, 02:25 PM ()

8. "RE: Half of a double portrait"

Hey Steph, how are you going with the double portrait?

He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.
St Fancis of Assisi

WarHorseLover

Member since Aug-26-02
185 posts, 4 feedbacks,

Nov-30-02, 04:03 PM ()

9. "RE: Half of a double portrait"

Hey B ella,
I have put it aside because I have a big commission right now. I did start on my sons part ands will scan and post today.
Equine and Western Art by: S. Baldwin

WarHorseLover

Member since Aug-26-02
185 posts, 4 feedbacks,

Nov-30-02, 06:00 PM ()

10. "RE: Half of a double portrait"

Well here is the scan of the double portrait. I havn't gotten very far but will work some more when the commission is done.
Equine and Western Art by: S. Baldwin