[Lindy]

Hi everyone,

Susan referred us to a challenge on The General Woodcarving segment and I wanted to share my results with you. This is my first attempt at a portrait of a real person and I have a long ways to go as well as a lot to learn for this type of subject, but.....I enjoyed doing it and will try some more portraits as time goes on.

Thank you Susan for pointing out that post and thank you everyone for allowing me to share. As always your critiques are welcome.

Lindy

[Dangee's Pyrography]

Hi Lindy!

Let me be the first to congratulate you on a job well done! This is an excellent first try!! Portraits are usually harder to do and you did very well.

I have uploaded a pic of the two photos together. You welcomed a critique so here goes:

On the left photo I have marked the areas with red where you need to do more shading etc. Now I will explain them...

First, on the hat I have marked three areas that need more shading to give that dimpled look in his hat.

Next is the shadow under the brim of his hat...his forehead needs more dark shading to ground the hat on him. I was seeing like an optical illusion when I first looked at it. I couldn't tell it was a brim of a hat at first...I thought it was the shadow under the brim.

The shading needs to continue down lower on the right side of his forehead just above his right eyebrow. Leave that highlight just above his eyebrow.

His left eyebrow could use a little darker shading leaving the white hairs in the middle, but darker hairs on each end.

The bridge of his nose between his eyes needs darker shading. See where it comes to an upside down v shape?

He needs darker shading under and above both eyes.

Look closely at his nose now...because he is African-American his nose needs to be shaded more. In fact...I would have lightly shaded his entire face except where the highlights show. In the middle of his nose you should show a line of darker shading across it. Then there is a highlight that goes across the bottom of his nose from nostril to nostril that should remain.

Emphasize the cheek lines with darker shading on both sides.

Darken the corner of his mouth more.

Shade his neck more and you'll see a slight line going from one side to the other on his neck. Use the shading tip to create this line as you don't ever want to outline in a portrait. You want a soft line, not a deep, harsh line that a skew could create. This also goes for doing the eyes, nose, and mouth...never outline them with a skew...but rather let them be created using soft shading.

His right earlobe needs a bit of shading at the very bottom.

Finally his jacket...up at the collar he needs darker shading to show that crease and continue down to the lapel. You also need darker shading under the lapel to make it "pop" out.

I know this is a lot to digest all at once, but I wanted you to be able to see the different tones and values of the shading in this picture.

Keep up the great work!! Hugs...Danette

[tucker1931]

Lindi. I think for a first portrait you did a fine job in capturing this wonderful photo. I don't think you went far enough into my post to see Susans rendering of the photo as an art piece for wood burning, if I remember it's on page three. I think you will have much more sicess with that pic. Susan is going to post it on her pattern site as a FREE pattern ( I don't know when it will appear there). Please go back to my original p[ost and check it out. I'm going to try and post it on this message, but not sure if it will work.
Cliff

[Lindy]

Hi Danette - thank you so much for taking the time to help me do a better job on this type of project. I think next time I'll do it on leather as I like how the leather will give me such smooth shader - I really found paper to be a challenge on this.

Hi Tucker - actually I had seen Susan's drawing but I had really wanted to try a true portrait this time. I absolutely love Susan's drawing and I plan to use it for another project. Thank you again for posting that photo, I'm going to try it again on a different medium to see if I can get it right one of these times.

Regards,
Lindy

[Dangee's Pyrography]

Lindy....I didn't know you had done this on paper!!! I would never attempt a first portrait on paper...you were very brave! Yes, leather would offer smoother shading...done on basswood, it would also allow smoother shading.
Again, you did a wonderful job on this piece. Hugs...Danette

[Dangee's Pyrography]

Thanks Tucker for showing us Susan's rendering of it for wood burning. I also didn't go far enough to see it.

Susan...you did a wonderful job turning it into a rendering for wood burning. I will have to give this a try sometime in the near future. Thanks for sharing.
Hugs..Danette

[Pyrographer]

Lindi you did a fine job for a first portrait and Dannie is absolutely right-on so I won't waste any time adding anything. I would also agree that burning on paper is not the best to use when trying to learn how to do portraits. I would suggest using wood or leather depending on you feel most comfortable with. Once you master the shading, etc perhaps then experiment with other medium. If you choose to burn on wood try either italian poplar or basswood for starters. While they are "boring" and white they also provide a smoother surface to build up your confidence.

Nedra

[Lindy]

Thanks again for all the help and suggestions. That's what I love about this Forum - you get to post work then get the support and encouragement to keep trying when you are experimenting with either a new subject or new material.

So thanks again for everyone's support.

Lindy

[Irish]

Wow! Lindy!!!!!!! That this is your first portrait blows me away!!!!

Paper is tough because you simply can not get beyond the deep medium tones. I have not yet found a paper that will let me burn into the dark rich chocolates or blacks. So your tonal palette is simply cut in half that moment that you chose paper.

It's advantages are that once the medium tone burning are complete you can add watercolor painting over top without losings any of the burn work. Plus it is easy to frame.

I do agree with Danette's changes when you do your second one on wood ...

Oh! The pattern is posted on Cliff's thread.

Susan

[ElWoodTroll]

Wow! excellent thread and great critique. howl copycat but I'd like to take a shot at this. My pyro experiments thus far have been pretty sad.
Nice job Lindy