Inner Smile

I painted this portrait freehand (no grids, etc.) from a reference photo. I decided to paint the background very dark as a foil to the lighter skin tones and hair - although it looks black in the photo, I used mainly burnt umber mixed with ultramarine blue, plus areas of dark alizarin crimson permanent and ultramarine in varying proportions.

Comments and critiques welcome.

It's in oil on 16x12in, 40x30cm canvas

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Comment by Michael Lang on October 19, 2013 at 6:36: Much appreciated, Jon - thank you.

Comment by Jon Main on October 19, 2013 at 6:34: Lot of nice things there Michael (form modelling, color...) - and a nice overall feel of the person.

Comment by Michael Lang on October 19, 2013 at 6:28: Thanks for clarifying, Christine. I checked on the photo and the slopes are accurate. However I guess that what is important is whether it looks correct. I will ponder what you wrote.

Comment by Christine Kirton on October 19, 2013 at 6:15: Perhaps balance it with the angle of the right shoulder - on the left of the photo image - by raising the angle of the burnt umber above the signature?

Comment by Christine Kirton on October 19, 2013 at 6:13: Michael it's the model's left shoulder - on the right of the photo image. The neckband/ collar is true to the line. The shoulder drops away far too sharply, emphasised by the line to the right of your signature. It might be worth softening the line first, before correcting perhaps?

Comment by Michael Lang on October 19, 2013 at 5:42: First of all thank you both, Christine and Michael, for your kind words. I really appreciate the time you've taken to put your thoughts down.

Michael, I think I see what you mean about her right eye and agree with you.

Christine, great to hear from you again. Regarding your comment, did you mean her left shoulder (rather than the shoulder on the left in the photo)?

Michael

www.michaeljuleslang.blogspot.co.uk

Comment by Michael Chomse on October 19, 2013 at 5:29: Lovely portrait, Michael.

The flesh tones and brushwork are fresh and vivacious, much like your model. The palette you have chosen is balanced and has a delightful lift to it, charming.

My one critical issue... a small detail. The eyes are beautiful, but, I think you could clean up the line on the white of the right eye, where it falls under the lower eyelid. The area around the underside and right edge of the right eye could do with a second look. You seemed a little unsure of yourself there.

As I said, it's a tiny detail, but the viewers eyes will be drawn to your model's left eye, and then slide across to the right, because that's the focal point of the painting. (When I say right, I mean the model's actual right eye, camera left.)

Hope this makes sense. :-)

Comment by Christine Kirton on October 19, 2013 at 4:53: Great painting Michael. You have advanced so much with your modelling of flesh tones. The face is beautiful, but for me the line of the left shoulder is wrong. The right shoulder is good. Maybe a quick rag wipe out to soften the edge on the shoulder beyond the collar/collar band? The shadow line is harsh, and perhaps it is this which drops the shoulder line badly.........