Dru, please comment on this portrait

[GCA]

Hello, Dru. My name is Ev Garcia. I'm an airbrush artist from Milwaukee, WI. I started airbrushing around 12 years ago. I mostly paint bikes now, but I have a strong desire to get into portrait work, both airbrushed and hairbrushed. My interest in the human form goes back a a long way. If I could make the same living off portraits I would give up the bike work in a second.


I painted this on illustration board using golden fluid acrylics. The size is 20x30. I used a photo I took of my wife (my muse). I really prefer to work from life or from photos that I take myself. I've been trying for over a year now to put a portfolio together, but so far all I have is this one portrait.

I realize you get paid to teach this stuff, so I totally understand if you can't give away too much info, but any comments you have will be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Ev

[gixster92]

I am not Dru, but will tell you, your images are not coming thru to see... I see an icon that states "remote linking is forbidden"

[Whit]

Same here,,, no images !!!
You might try uploading directly from your puter !!!

[GCA]

Thanks for the heads up. I don't know why that happens, but I fixed it. There was no problem with the other pics I posted today.

[airartiste]

Hi Ev,

This is a great effort, with a beautiful subject, and it is well rendered.

My suggestion for improvement would be to be conscious of the tendency we all have to amplify what we see. In other words, we often tend to interpret subtle things, as not-so-subtle things when we paint them. This can be seen in how we make dark areas too dark (to the left of her lips) and light areas too light (highlight on left lower eyelid). This type of visual exaggeration tends to yield a harsh look, especially in portraiture.

If the reference has subtle gradations or value changes, make them subtle in your painting. If something is ambiguous in your reference material, it is okay to render it with the same ambiguity in your painting.

I would also recommend that you avoid idealizations. Paint what you see, not what you know. Stylizations often wind up looking contrived, such as the three slightly similar ringlets of hair on the left side.

I would also like to see you move into full color instead of monochromatic paintings. Value studies are great, but I think that you will derive more satisfaction and growth by attempting more ambitious full-color renderings.

I hope this helps,

Dru

[GCA]

Hey Dru, just want to say thanks for both the critique and the encouragement. Your honesty and sincerity are greatly appreciated. I already have my next portrait in mind: same model, different pose and lighting. It's killing me that I don't know when I'll get to paint it. I'm stuck painting bikes and helmets (I know, woe is me....), and I don't have time to paint anything that isn't making me money. My boys are taking a nap right now, so maybe I can get the drawing started.

---ev

[XZOTIC INK]

im no where near these other guys on the website w my work, but i can say as a young buck to airbrushing is "wow" thats impressive!! I really like how you did that shadow under her eye to it looks like a real hair shadow not a blur blend shadow. Nice stuff man...oo the wet lips are sweet too.:partyalone:

[blinddog 99]

Nice piece Ev, great work overall......