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Need some objective criticism on this portrait painting
3yr
@nahgul
Hey, I think I have been working on this portrait painting for a little bit too long and now I feel like I have become immune to it’s downsides. So to solve this problem I would like some objective criticism on it.
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Jeff Reid
3yr
I like the portrait. You may want to look at the values. Try converting the painting and the reference into grayscale. The white of the eyes for example looks to be too bright which can flatten the image. The same for the shadows in general. The transitions are a bit sharp in areas too, check your edges add variation in the way you handle edges, some should be sharp, some soft.
Giselle
3yr
I think you captured the likeness really well! What stands out to me is that the values are a bit on the lighter side so you lose contrast. Your darkest dark looks right, but the lighter shadows on the left side of the face aren't deep enough. In the reference, that side is a lot darker and shadows are a bit more defined with some noticeable hard edges. Maybe another pass at defining the shadow shapes and deepening the values?
Christopher Beaven
Yes, I was about to say the same thing. The left side of the face especially the eye socket needs to go a bit darker.
@nahgul
3yr
Yeah I think that is why I think it looks a little bit “flat”. The lack of contrast made it harder for me to define the planes of the face resulting in a flat look. Also, I might have to work on the right eye a bit.
@paper
3yr
Oh hey it's you Hey this is pretty good,you definetly improve your likeness a hell of a lot.Your value structure is good too,nice simplification on the light side.I guess if I have to give a critique I think you made some of the side on the left a bit too light and I think you can soften the edge of the eyebrow a bit.I also personally think the structure inside the ear could be a little bit better,so maybe study that a bit more (I recommend Vanderpoel plates and copying them) (Here's also an overpainting if that help) But other than that,great job!Please,if you do a little more work on the background (and also the above)This'll be a very good painting!
@nahgul
3yr
Oh hi @paper, thanks for responding! Do you think I should maybe exaggerate the values of some plane changes with a little bit more loose brushwork going on to avoid it from looking flat and "cartoonish" or is it good as it is? The photo reference is pretty bland in my opinion.
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