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| What I just sent to Anne ... |
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| What Anne saw as needing work ... |
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| Buddy Well, it seems that the Awesome Ming is back in top, fighting form. Earlier today, I received a note with an annotated photo, both describing her criticism of the portrait. And she's absolutely right!!! I thought, after all the agonizing over this portrait, you might want to see the critique. And I will go back to the painting ... As ever, your comment are always most welcome! |
Egads! SHe is merciless indeed! That's quite the critique. I personally, LOVE him. I think you've done fantastic work. I agree with the darkening of the shadows in places, this is something I noticed many, many of the students in my workshop struggling with although yours don't look like they need too much strengthening, and something that I am always seeking (sometimes fruitlessly) is for a good balance between soft and hard edges. maybe soften up some of those edges by his muzzle.
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I love it... the painting, I mean - I think you captured the heart of the dog... so I don't know, I'd probably critique the critique more than your painting... but that's just me ;) Lovely painting... sweet animal :)
ReplyDeleteLovely work. Your drawing is perfect & the color treatment is ultimate. Excellent work....
ReplyDeleteEver thought of taking a contract out? :lol:
ReplyDeleteI love Buddy as is, but I know you'll go the extra mile! xx
I don't know what's wrong with Blogger this time, but the pictures don't show up. So I can't comment on the critique... :(
ReplyDeleteWell he is truly gorgeous as is - It's a wonderful painting and I'd be so proud to have done this! That said - all the critique has done is pointed out ways of improving even further and since you are going for hyper-realism here, really it's just another layer of the finest detail to take it to absoloute completion. The great thing is, that you haven't made any mistakes! It's about minor additions and not taking away what you've done which is just as well since watercolour is so unforgiving in that way! I always find that the way to bring a painting to life is by taking the darks to their absolute limit. The darker the darks, the lighter the lights will seem. This is much harder to do with watercolour, but it works for my oils! :0)
ReplyDeleteI have compared it a few times to the original picture and frankly I love your painting. When you have a painting "critiqued" it's one person's opinion which is wonderful, however, it's their opinion. My opinion would be to frame it.
ReplyDeleteI can see Buddy now! And I think he is stunning! Of course my own style is much looser. I agree with what Sandra says, it is minor additions. To me he is perfect already!
ReplyDeleteI love it just the way it is. And what is important is to ask- how does this portrait make you feel? If it was me- I would say it makes me feel very, very happy. Its important to feel good about it, and say to yourself "well done".
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tweedles
aw gee, Kathryn, reminds me to be careful of what we wish for. I've learned to be brutal with myself, and it took a looooong time to fine tune those decisions on what to fix. And yet it was in the "fixin" that I learned what to let go and what to fiddle with. Keep on keepin' on - just like riding - we learn to quit with the horse before we reinforce a bad move and end with a sour horse.
ReplyDeleteThe painting is reallllly nice. I like it.
I really love this portrait and thanks a lot for sharing your agonizing process step by step! Regarding the critique, I think there are major issues and minor issues, and the balance between totally loyal to the photo and let go to appreciate the beauty exhibited by the painting gradually forming on paper. I think the relatively important things she has pointed out are shadows on the back of Buddy's Jaw, which adds a lot of three-dimensionality to the head, and soften and blending the back of his head into the background, which makes the distinction of subject and background not so clear-cut, and provides easier transition for the eye from subject to the background. I think the rest of the issues are minor, and the vividness of the painting at this stage may be risked if a lot of modifications of minor issues are executed at this stage. It's a very beautiful painting and does not need to be the slave of the photo reference -- although I have to say I really like the photo...
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