Need help finishing this up

[lesliehansel]

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I have a few very specific questions about this. First, I'm concerned the hear behind the neck doesn't look right and I can't figure out why. Dose that are look weird to you?

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My second questions is about the background. I would like to bring it up in value some and add some texture. Do you think that will make the painting to high tone? It's all ready a pretty high key background.

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[Singular]

The hair behind the neck does not look bad. It isn't really noticeable that something is off unless you stare for a while. It may be because the hair looks to be going straight down, which is not possible. It would bend a bit since it is behind her ear and neck. And the hair would converge a bit as you went lower. Tha background looks fine, in my opinion and does not need to be changed. Overall, this is very good work. You should be proud. I look forward to seeing more from you.

all the best,
Joe

[ehoeveler]

I am thrilled to see your skin and lip tones! Wonderful.
I agree with Joe on every point except one.
The background. I see a bunch of stamps with your name -
is that a copyright protection or do you just like the
fun of repeating your name? I like the color of the background
but if you don't intend to keep the name-stamps, I'd do a
little something extra with it.
Let's get back to the hair. Your almost photo-realism with her
face calls for the same with her hair and neck hair. For the
head hair, I'd like to see more strand definition - it's a boring
hassle to do this but you'll be pleased with the results, trust me!
As far as the neck hair goes, in my experience, the neck hair is
fuller right at the base of the skull and becomes finer as it goes
down the neck. You have dark hairs placed randomly in this
area which does not look natural, to me.
Finally, her earrings and hairpiece. Depending on what materials
you have in mind for these pieces, whether it be feather, gemstone
or silver I would like to see more contrast and definition.
Leslie, your work is beautiful - you just need to tighten it up a little!
'Best, ehoeveler

[ehoeveler]

One more thing - I noticed the lines on the cloth on
her shoulder needs some softening.

[alilspunsugar]

I like the wallpaper, are you going to incorporate your name into every painting somehow? I kinda like that idea... Is the hair suppose to be all going over the left shoulder? Did you copy this from a picture or a live model? I think I would have the hair going down the back or something to change the way the lines of the neck and shoulder seem abrupt and sharper than they should for the realistic nature of the face. I wish I could do this with people's faces. Just beautiful.

[johncee]

I was thinking what would make this picture rise above the norm and take it up a level, and that would be trying to get the facial skin to glow. Getting the skin tones to glow has been a subject of challenge for artists for well over a century. But there have been artists who have set out to do this and achieved it.
Similar when babies come out of a warm bath you can notice a beautiful glow from the skin. From what I have seen in galleries it is a lighter pink than the reddish pink you have used. However, you may need better advice from an experienced portrait painter on how better to achieve this.

I have noticed to enhance the skin tones they have to be the lightest and brightest in the painting and everything else subdued in grayish tones, done subtle. You would not want a dark gray but more of a light gray.
At present the background tones and colour are too similar to the facial colour and skin tones, perhaps even compete and distract to a small degree, rather than enhance and enliven. I think the face and eyes are done with sensitivily and a pleasant look.

[lesliehansel]

Thank you all for your suggestions, especially ehoeveler. I took about a week off from working on this. After I came back to it I saw the problem with the hair right away. I played around with a couple of diffident strategies on how to fix it and this is what I came up with. I'm in the process of building up the hair around the neck and shoulders to hide the clothes more and give the hair a natural, believable path to follow.

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Hear is a pic of the details so far.

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I'm also going to work on getting more glow in the skin like johncee pointed out. I'v started spending time in the Renascence section of the Denver art museum. Right now im planning on getting rid of the sharp gradient on her check and work on a more sustained blend starting with a warmer white/yellow like you see from that time period.

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[lesliehansel]

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Hear is were I'm at with this. I darkened the background and added more subtle color on the face. I also spent some time working on the color temps. I have some details to work out on the mount and chin but I think its pretty much finished. Any thoughts or suggestions?

[ehoeveler]

Wow!!! I think I like it, gimme a day or two to look. Ehoeveler

[lesliehansel]

Thanks, I got a lot of advice from my earlier post. With out those I don't think I would have been able to get her this far along. Especially JOHNCEE who mentioned the high value of the original background. I started out doing graffiti, so I use my name a lot in my painting out of design habit. I would never have touched the background had he not pointed out that it was the same value as the central figure. I think darkening did a lot for the overall feel of the piece.

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These are hand printed cards I leave laying all over town for no good reson. I used the same stamp on the original background.

[ehoeveler]

Leslie this is great and you've improved this
even more! I would say 2 very, no 3 very small
things. (1 and 2)The curved line over the nostril flap and
the nostril line itself should be smoothed out a
bit like you'd "do" smudgy mascara. Looks more natural
and less "line-y".
Lastly, her teeth are way too white. Look again at
your subject and you'll see what I mean!
I love what you've done with her skin tones.
Fabulous job, Leslie.
ehoeveler

[ehoeveler]

Now, Leslie I just want to add one more (or 2 more) little things -
can you do something really fun and bright for her earrings
and sharpen the gray edges of her hair clip?

[jenn_iam]

I am indifferent on the background... I actually liked it as it was, but its not bad either the way you have it. the hair now does have more life - this is good. my only critique at this point, is to watch your proportions. For this one, it would be hard to change, so the suggestion is for any in the future. The distance from the center of the ear to the tip of the nose, in a profile view, is relatively the same distance as the mandible (Jaw bone), from the hinge arc to the chin tip. in this drawing, its a bit long, in both accounts for the face from the cheekbone down. If you can work on the tones and shadows, this will be much less prominent.

Otherwise, you have done fantastic work with this one, I enjoy the color choices and the composition greatly.. It has a very dreamy, or contemplative wonder about it.

All the best,
Jenn

[lesliehansel]

So I set this one aside for a little while and only recently revived it. I worked on the nose and mouth and little and added some reflections from the new background. I think the more neutral background works better this her skin tones. The teeth may still be to white.

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[ehoeveler]

Go ahead and check your Gallery for my comment - essentially
the background color doesn't compliment her complexion but I still love the brushwork.
Thank You, E