Portrait Studies

[Matt Elder]

Haven't posted any art here on the forums for quite some time. These are just some portrait studies done from various models. All done in a bit over half a day ... need to get faster. C&C always welcomed

http://www.mattelder.com/blog/BeckyPortrait2.jpg

http://www.mattelder.com/blog/GemmaPortrait1.jpg

http://www.mattelder.com/blog/BeckyPortrait1.jpg

http://www.mattelder.com/blog/GemmaPortrait2.jpg

[the_allejo05]

not bad man..i like the two first ones..what materials you using by the way??

[Matt Elder]

the_allejo05: thanks for the comments dude. Actually what I'm using is relatively simple:
- toned paper (if you can't get any easily, paint gouache onto white paper for a tone - but don't forget to wet the back of the paper otherwise it will curl too much)
- pencil (a cheap 2B)
- touches of white Prismacolour pencil.

The only reason these take as long as they do is in trying to get the likeness to the model.

[Dael Wolf]

I tried portraits using the same materials and you are doing way better than me. You might want to consider softening some of the lines and hard edges. Also, in the second portrait, the upper lip seems to be all one value but since it is a 3D object probably some parts of it would catch more light than others. All in all I really like the effect you are achieving with these materials.

[Form]

Nice, you have captured the likeness well - unusual faces retaining anatomical correctness. Reminds me of leo's grotesques. These done at Julian's? I really have to start doing some portraits. And hey do you get your halftone paper somewhere cheap in sydney or is it much of a muchness?

[Matt Elder]

Dael Wolf - thanks for your comments dude. You are right about that lip. I did model it subtlely but evidently not enough. I've spent many pages rendering facial features (eyes, noses, mouths) which seem to make this somewhat easier. I could post some if you are interested - otherwise maybe you could post some of your images and I could give you some comments.

Form - the likeness is the thing that sucks up all the time. When I do these from my head, they only take about 45 minutes. Yeah at Ashton's doing these (Thursday during the day - any chance you'll pop in?) and always good to get a fresh set of eyes behind you telling you your missing the basics. I got a pad of toned paper from Dymocks in the city, 15 A3 sheets for $25 - a little steep when it is like that but when you think each page is about $1.60, a much of a muchness. The red images below is just white paper with Cad red gouache, which doesn't take much paint (although time to prepare the surface, albeit it somewhat mediative :P ).

Anyhow, a couple of others done during last Thursday's class. C&C always welcomed.

A3 size
http://www.mattelder.com/blog/runner1.jpg

A5 Size
http://www.mattelder.com/blog/runner2.jpg

A6 Size ie small
http://www.mattelder.com/blog/runner3.jpg