Monday 7 November 2011

07/11: LABRADOR IN PASTELS ON FISHER 400 (FINISHED)

I heard back from my client this morning that he thinks the likeness is perfect and there's nothing to change.   So I added the final touches - a few whiskers etc., and finished the paving stones in the foreground and here he is:


I photographed the portrait with a double mount laid loosely on top to give an idea how the finished portrait will look - the mount is white with a black inner



but then I found another double mount which is ivory with a plum coloured inner and I think this works better as it picks up the pink tones in the paving slabs (apologies if you can't see the pink tones ... joys of technology I'm afraid)!




so now, on to the first of the human commissions ....

When I first started portraying 2 legged subjects I worked in graphite only and then gradually moved onto to coloured pencils (but only if the references were very clear). 

For some reason I never wanted to try pastels for human subjects ... until now that is.    I decided to use some of the pastelmat I've had sitting around for ages as it is quite brightly coloured (and looks even more so in artificial light).    I figured that I can easily put  in a simple pastel background and cover the original paper colour if I think its too bright later on - in my reference photo the background is mottled blue/grey.    

I'm using Sienna coloured pastelmat and I selected it as I thought it would provide a good base colour for my subject's beautiful hair/skin colouring.    And, so far so good (fingers firmly crossed)  ... I'm even thinking I may leave the paper colour 'as is' ... early days yet but this is where I got to this afternoon:



I had to give up as the light is so poor this evening .. I have 2 daylight bulb/lamps but still struggle with colours.   I've outlined another 'human' who is to be completed in graphite so in theory I can work on it in the evening light - but not tonight

11 comments:

  1. Thanks Amatheya - I'm told I captured his character here which is always the goal of course :-)

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  2. I love the lab as well, Sue. And I really love the included floor tiles! Great piece! -Steve

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  3. Love the lab, and especially the inclusion of the floor tiles. Great piece! -Steve

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  4. Thanks Steve ... much appreciated

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  5. While I think the lab is wonderful as well, I am quite taken with the beginnings of the two-legged animal.

    I can't wait to see more,

    xoxo

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  6. Opps, sorry. I didn't intend to post 2 comments. I thought the first one failed to go through!

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  7. Thanks for commenting Vicki.

    No problem Steve - I often do the same thing especially where you have to wait till comments are approved :-)

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  8. The lab turned out as beautiful as I thought it would and I agree that the second mat enhances it most.

    The human in pastels is going to be stunning! I think the PastelMat color is perfect with her peaches and cream complexion!

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  9. Thanks Jan ... I find a couple of the pastelmat colours a little 'bright' in artificial light (especially Maize which looks bright yellow) so am always a bit reticent about using them. Getting bolder these days I think!

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  10. I love the lab,it is amazing and so full of life...I will comment on the portrait (which is also great)seperately...above!

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