Harrison at Daytona Beach..my first figure painting

Add a Comment

Comment by Elizabeth Elgin on October 25, 2011 at 9:19

Cheryl, no didn't mean turn his head, but edge of profile should come back. Look at the line under the chin...don't think children have that much jaw - it's almost like where that double chin line is behind his chin is where his chin should be. You've probably already fixed it by now and I can't wait to see the final. Hope you post it. Yes, you captured the excitement and tension/anticipation in his body. really nice.

Comment by Cheryl Lipham on October 24, 2011 at 12:42

Elizabeth,  I hope you get this msg.  I'm not up to par when it comes to this site.  When you say 'the face needs to come back in a bit'.  Do you mean that I need to turn his face/vision to his left?  I'm glad you got that he was leaning forward into the wave.  He was really feeling the waves that day; I tried to capture that.  Now my task is to reorient his head since I've made it smaller.  I hope I can get it!  Thanks for your input.

Comment by Cheryl Lipham on October 22, 2011 at 13:52

Thanks to all for your helpful eyes.  I didn't realize the size of his head was out of whack until I posted the original on my site and saw them 'through other eyes'.  I could also see the water color was wrong...guess when I got involved with that sienna I went overboard!  I really do appreciate your advice, and I hope this message gets to all of you.  My knowledge of how to get around in this website is just about as much as my knowledge of painting.  I hope you hear me!  Thanks again.

Comment by Elizabeth Elgin on October 22, 2011 at 5:05

FIRST figure painting? Wow. Then keep at it. Agree that the head proportions are not quite right though. Easy to fix I think - imagine the spinal column going up the curvature of the back into the skull. Since he's thrusting his head forward in excitement, I'd take off all the blond hair, repaint the sea behind and redo the outline of the back of the skull. Hold your finger over that part on the screen to see the difference. The face needs to come back in a bit as well, just a tad. The sea is fabulous as is the body of the boy.

Comment by Lyndon Baxter on October 21, 2011 at 22:22

The proportion may be slightly out but its still an excellent first attempt, the only other comment I'd make is that the sea is a little too warm for the amount of agitation in the water...just my opinion!

Keep up the figure painting, your well and truly on your way.

Comment by diane boucher on October 21, 2011 at 20:09

what a great first attempt. I just feel the childs head is to large from front to back Portraits are such a challenge if done in any detail as there is not much room for any slight error. No wonder I don't even try so cogratulations to you.