[Art Addiction]

Well...here's a portrait I just finished of Jennifer Connelly (took five hours this time). I paid much more attention to proportions this time around and the result is a striking likeness. I'm amazed at my own improvement in just one painting.

Without further adieu, here's the final painting:
http://www.digidreams-studios.com/images/jenniferconnelly-portrait1.jpg

And, of course, the source photo:
http://www.digidreams-studios.com/images/jc-source.jpg

[Sumaleth]

Big improvements in the results this time which is good to see, although the likeness is still not really there yet.

It's time to start thinking about 'values' more carefully, and making sure that they are consistant. Values = the brightness of each surface in the image relative to each other.

An example that springs to mind on this image is the "brightest point of skin". In other words where on the image is the brightest point of skin? No other skin should be as bright unless it is angled at the light source by the same amount.

The light source in this photo is "above and in front" of the girl so the brightest points of skin are;

. The top of the forehead just before the hair.
. The bridge of the nose.
. The top of the chin.
. The inner corners of the eye.
. The start of her breast area.

All those are generally facing the light by the same degree.

(For unnatural lighting like this the points -closest- the light are also usually a little higher in value than any other point, so we'd naturally expect the top of the forehead to be the lightest value, but the shiny surface of the nose can counter that separation. That's probably going to far at this stage though.)

Next find the darkest areas of skin;

. Around the side of the face.
. Around the side of the neck.
. Under the chin.
. In the nostrals.

Once you've settled on a value for those spots they should be consistant and no other places of skin should be darker.

Now think about different values between those extremes. The top of the cheeks are one value-step down from the brightest, and there are some other clear values around the face.

Now when you're painting an area of the face think; is this value I'm using here consistant with the values I've used elsewhere?

An example of where you haven't done this is the forehead on your version; right from the top-center to the nose bridge is a single value, so it flattens the shape out, completely loosing the form of the forehead.

But anyway, good progress. Keep going.

Row.

[tek9z]

hmmmmmmmm Jennifer..

[Steven Stahlberg]

Very nice painting.
Yes, what Sumaleth said... well said btw.

Also, just to add about the proportions, I think the nose, eyes and eyebrows all need to get bigger, 'fatter' if you will, or maybe all you need to do is to reduce the head on the left side and the top. She's got those heavy eyebrows that are softer and much bigger close to the nose, and those doe-eyes - maybe just softening the shadow under them would be enough, and that kinda childish nose.

[xor]

lookin' good. one thing. The tip of the nose is the slightest bit out of place. Try and move the tip to your left a bit. Notice in the ref. where the tip of the nose is. you have the curve of the nose following the bridge which usually forms into the tip of the nose. notice on your painting how it curves and then basically forms away. not into the tip of the nose.

other than that; good work, take your time, and don't try to finish it so hard. i can notice a few areas where ya just wanted to get it over with. =P


-xor

[Art Addiction]

Sumaleth -- Thanks! Your advice was very helpful. I will keep it in mind when I redo this (I would like to get this portrait correct). That, and the fact that I really like Jennifer Connelly...ehhheheheh.

tek9z- You read my mind. Mmmmmm...Jennifer Connelly...*drool*...

Steven -- Thanks for pointing out the slight problem with the placement of her eyebrows. I noticed that before -- they should definitely be thicker. Plus the slight dent in her left side of her lip does not bode well for the likeness (as the photo itself does not have that).

xor- Hehehe. Unfortunately, I tend to rush last minute details as I finish up a painting. I'm trying to avoid that habit. It would help my paintings tremendously to spend a little bit more time refining those last details.

Thanks once again for the crits everyone! I'll post a revision of this painting shortly after the weekend.