This semester I concentrated on portraiture, but showing each persons individuality through them. I didn't make any kind of backgrounds for each picture because i didn't want what i put to be a distraction to the portrait. I had gotten a lot of feedback from classmates and few professors that it was the best way to go. that apparently kicked me in the butt during final critiques b/c through the whole 20 mins thats all they pretty much talked about and how unsuccessful it was. So I am willing to post my images on here and hoping people will give me feedback on how to make it work?!
Self Portrait
Detail of the face
In progress painting
the specific ones that i got that where working more is the male in the blue background and the last painting with the orange background. but i'd still like anybody's opinion on how to make it work?
Thanks
Jamiee
Jaimee,
ReplyDeleteI think you did some really good work this semester. Just take it all in stride girl.
I like the idea of making the background plain to emphasize the portrait itself. However, the bright and graphic colors in the backgrounds you chose only compete with the portraits. The backgrounds have as much of a presence as the portraits themselves do. It’s not easy to get the portraits to stand out the way you want them to when they are painted next to such vibrant colors. I think this work would be more successful if you crop the background more or if the figures and the background were integrated in some way. Think of it as a figure in an environment rather than a portrait in front of a background. You can absolutely use whatever colors you wish but they probably need to be toned down to a subtler palette to allow the emphasis to be placed on the figure. Don’t be afraid to throw in some variation of colors for a subtle atmospheric effect. As long as the background is not very vibrant or treated with as much detail as the portraits are I think you’ll get the effect you want in the overall composition.
I think the male portrait is working because you have some variation in the blues and some of the shadows in his clothing are similar to the background. The orange background is working because you’ve made the connection between the figures and the background by using some of the background color in the flesh tones. The figures feel like they are in the space they are painted in rather than separate from it. This, in my opinion, this is one of the most successful in this group even though it is in progress.
You’re getting better and better. Don’t let the crit get you down. Remember this is a continuous learning process and you don’t have to have it all figured out in one semester.
Keep your head up and keep on pushing!