Value Study
3yr
Davide Veronese
Hi everyone! Recently I finished this value study based on this photo by Sean Archer. I was pretty happy in the beginning, but now something feels off, and I don’t know what it is. Also, I was trying to imitate the painting on the third image (by Naranbaatar Ganbold) but I didn’t even get close. What are the main differences between the two paintings? What makes that painting so cool to look at? I would love to hear your thoughts!
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Omkar Gaokar
Looks amazing! Really strong study...
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Davide Veronese
Thank you!
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An
3yr
Your painting looks amazing, but the main difference between your image and the style you are trying to copy is the detail and shadows. In the reference painting, the shadows are much more light/ not as contrasted with little detail placed into hair and muscles. I think that's what gives it the more dreamy look you want. I understand that the reference photo has dark shadows, but to make it looser you might want to lighten it up. The hair and other features (muscles and clavicle's) are also much more detailed. I think something else that might be holding you back is the proportions, the neck looks very thin with the dark background infringing on the space, the overall shoulders seem a bit too narrow compared to the head so it looks more cartoonish than the drawing reference you want to copy. I honestly like the painting you have on its own, these are just some tips to make it more like the reference drawing, but I like the style you possess! Hope this helps!
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Davide Veronese
It surely helps, thank you! I have a long list of things to improve for the next study, let’s see where it goes :D
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Gannon Beck
One thing about the Ganbold painting that is really making it work is emphasis in the way of sharpness paid to the features of the face in contrast to deemphasis of the hair and body. It MAKES us look at her eyes as if we have been captivated by them.
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Davide Veronese
Yeah, you are right. I remember watching a video from Borodante and he was talking just about that, with Rembrandt as an example. I will make sure to implement that technique, thanks!
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Moonfey
Hi Davide! The first thing I noticed that was different from the photo and your painting is that in your painting the head is much bigger in comparison with the width of the shoulders. Then it comes to comparison with the image by Naranbaatar Ganbold, the values in that portrait is much softer and that together with the way the edges fade into the background makes it look a bit dreamlike to me. Your picture on the other hand have more contrast in its values that I feel gives it a sharper or stronger feeling to it. That certainly is not a bad thing, I think she look really beautiful, it just gives a different mood to the painting. All of the pictures truly look great in their own way!
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Davide Veronese
Thank you! I’m really starting to see the differences between the two paintings now :)
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@pollypopcorn
I'd say the thing that seems the most off proportionally between the photo and your drawing is the neck is quite a bit thicker than what you have it. I think your drawing looks great as a slightly stylized portrait. I don't know if you're going for that or something more strictly realistic. As far as what makes your drawing different from the painting, I'd say the main thing is that Ganbold's painting is quite a bit lighter. The darks in the hair and shadow under the chin are a lot lighter than what you have on your hair and background and eyes, and it doesn't get too much darker in other parts. Another thing that makes it different is the painting keeps some brushstroke texture. Your painting has very smooth gradients into different values, whereas Ganbold's is more painterly. They also have the shadow the chin melding into the background and hair. Basically, I would pay attention to some of the choices they make like that in their art and imitate what you like.
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Davide Veronese
Thanks for the critique! In the next study I will try to implement all the points you've made :P
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