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Monday, November 24, 2014

Close Up Portrait 1

Hi, Friends, have you ever tried a "close up" portrait, particularly, a bit head-off one? This is my first try in life, for I've always included some part of a body. I'd share my findings in a close up portrait in this post. Close-ups in portraits are quite an intertesting genre, I've felt! A close up eloquently tells a life story and a personality. This lady's eyes and mood caught my eyes. I hope viewers will feel this lady's life history and imagine what she's thinking.  Yes, I have my own thoughts of this lady and her personality. I hope they will come up in this try. So, I leave it to you.  
Technically, a close up was not easy for me. I've realised that I always scale each body part in a whole to balance it. I need to draw close ups more to explore it. I did a bit different approach. After watercolour, graphite emphasised some areas. It worked well. Unlike a sketch-like portrait, I feel, exaggerated strong lines or values work well in a close up. But ...mmm... I feel... already overworked? This work reminds me of my "old work" before "loose up." Anyway, I need experience! 

In the process of developing the image, I focused on the model's eyes. You can compare the eyes below with the above. This was the beginning and I was just playing with watercolour. I felt her personality coming up and worked on it more. I always simplify or delete unnecessary visual information as much as possible, which helps "don't overwork" as well. Also, I feel good loose watercolour has a nice balance between softened edges and hard edges. The edges of hair were softened. I felt I should have blurred hair at an early stage of watercolour, for hair was not important in this message. 
But the problem was that the image of a background did not come together with a subject. (so, I got on hair without a background.)
Friends, how do you handle a background? I admire other artists who organise backgrounds well.  Apart from a technical approach, it seems that I'm very much like an instinct person. (*Often technical tips haven't helped me. Always it turned down my liveliness and lost something from an original work. Not easy.) For me, sometimes, a clear image of colour, etc come up with a subject from the beginning. But sometimes it does not. This case is not. If I dared to add something in a background from the beginning, it always turned out dull or mismatched to a subject. A worst case was "mess up." So, I do not push myself too much and take a short break now. I'm waiting for inspiration will come up. If it does not come up, I'll leave it blank or try it again from the beginning. 

In the process, the model has begun to talk to me. I enjoy listening to her, although I'm making this image and all is my imagination. I'm very much interested in her eyes. I look into her eyes...  It's the beauty and fun of creating a portrait. Subjectivity and objectivity comes together in a work.


I saw many interesting close-ups in Archibald and Moran National Portrait exhibitions that intrigued me. In this attempt, I've found that I've always scaled eyes, a nose and mouth etc each "face part" position and value in a whole body, naturally and automatically. It means without a whole body, it's a bit inconvinient for me to allocate each face part. I certainly got a small image such as a "thumb nail" is easy to perceive and to handle. Some tips -- Choose a face part that impressed you most and emphasise it/them, is a good idea. Simplify visual information and check value all the time. A background remains my assignment. ...gulp... a bit scary though, I want to challenge a background. Be brave, Sadami! This work did not go well though, it becomes my precious stepping stone to move on. I'll do lots of close ups!

Btw, I've submitted a finalised image to Oxford University Press. A linguistics professor is happy. I hope it will go well! 
Friends, Happy Painting! 



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28 comments:

  1. Sadami, I think you worry too much...........your paintings are always lovely. I suppose I am a bit like you in that I struggle with backgrounds too. I think that is why I hesitate on starting a new painting because I think I need to establish what the background is before I add the essential elements of people, animals, and close up things. Sometimes I just let the white space of the paper or canvas be just that, unintrusive open space. I look forward to hearing what you have to say about your journey in the search for backgrounds. Blessings!

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    1. Thank you for the kind encouragements. If you like drawing, plse keep on enjoying drawing more. You do not need to think too much. Regarding drawing, I'm quite instinctive and obey to emotions. Otherwise, good or interesting work will not come up. A work based on a theory does not reach people's heart, I feel. I listen to my heart and work on drawing. You, too, enjoy drawing and other creative activities.
      Kind regards, Sadami

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  2. This is a beautiful portrait, Sadami ! I love the twinkle in the eyes and the so shy smile !
    Have great week and happy painting!

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    1. Dear Martine, thank you! Yes, this lady is soooo shy, extremely shy. If you feel so, I'm very happy. You, too, have a wonderful week. Best wihses, Sadami

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  3. I like this view of the portrait, Sadami. You do great work! I see this lady as intelligent with kind eyes, a softness about her which you have captured. I feel a portrait like this doesn't need a background more than a bit of color or splash or splatter :)
    Take care!

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    1. Oh, sweet Rhonda, thank u! Yes, she's very intellectual, so kind and soft. If you feel so, I'm very happy. When I wonder if I need a background or not, I always hold my brushes. I will do so. Thank you for the wonderful advice. Cheers, Sadami

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  4. Excellent close-up portrait Sadami :-)

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    1. Wow, kind Ann, thank you for warm cheers!!! Best wishes, Sadami

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  5. The portrait is beautiful and very expressive, Sadami, I think you may be too critical to yourself. I think I see though how a few tiny white specks in the mouth and eyes got lost in the final version, which changed something in the expression. Keep painting and having fun!

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    1. Oh, sweet Blaga, thank u so much for encouragements. I was careful not to do overwork and held my brushes at this stage. OK, like you cheered me up, I'll work on portraits and have fun!! Best wishes, Sadami

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  6. Magnifique portrait, j'admire votre travail !

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    1. Merci, Corinne! Vous aussi, profiter de dessin et de peinture à l'aquarelle! Meilleurs voeux, Sadami

      Thank you, Corinne! You, too, enjoy drawing and watercolour painting! Best wishes, Sadami

      >>> Corinne said...
      Magnificent portrait, I admire your work!

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  7. I think sometimes we worry too much about backgrounds, sometimes they are not necessary. I love the way you have faded this lovely portrait. It is so full of emotion.

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    1. Thank you, Polly!!! Yes, I should listen to my heart. But I'll try a background and see how it goes. Any experiment helps me to learn something. I'll draw tens of thousands of times and I'll learn something. Cheers, Sadami

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  8. Sadami, qué envidia tengo de ti, cuando veo este magnífico retrato. Y... eso, que dices que es la primera vez... Te felicito!!!!!!!!! El fondo ya está bien así!
    Un beso.

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    1. Oh, dulce Joshemari, eres tan amable todo el tiempo. Los retratos son mi género favorito. Voy a trabajar en. Admiro su acuarela para barcos, juguetes y arquitectura. Además, usted está disfrutando de figuras, también, en estos días. Espero con interés su figura trabajo.
      Mis mejores deseos, Sadami

      Oh, sweet Joshemari, you're so kind all the time. Portraits are my favorite genre. I'll work on. I admire your watercolour for ships, toys and architecture. Furthermore, you are enjoying figures, too, these days. I look forward to your figure work.
      Best wishes, Sadami
      >>> Joshemari said...
      Sadami, what I envy you, when I see this magnificent portrait. And ... that, you say it is the first time ... I congratulate you !!!!!!!!! The fund is well well!
      A kiss.

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  9. I think you should not be worried about a background, because they are not always necessary. In this case I think a background would be too much. I love the portrait, Sadami, she has a wonderful smile!

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    1. Thank u, Judy! I'll move onto another work and the projects for 2015. Yes, I love portraits. I hope you will enjoy figures, too. Cheers, Sadami

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  10. Such a wonderful portrait!!! No, it doesn't need a background :) Visiting you after a long break and loved all your recent posts -- thanks for all the inspiration and congratulations on your successes -well deserved. .

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    1. Oh, sweet Merra, thank u! Very happy to hear form you!!!!
      OK, I'll leave it blank and move onto another portait and the projects for 2015. Lots more are, right now, coming to me. 2015 will be an amazing year for me. I hope it will happen to you, too. Best wishes, Sadami

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  11. I think the face carries the portrait and a background might simply detract, so I am in favour of leaving it be.
    It is not as loose as your other works, but it's not bad for that. I can feel the emotion in her, of a very pensive person, remembering a happy event. You've conveyed that to me, beautifully. The more you do, the more you find your happy painting spot, whether that's looser or not. As she is, she is still fabulous. xx

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    1. Oh, sweet Pat, you have wonderful words and spot on. (I wish I could send messages in English like you. You're a writer!) Yes, this work came up not a "too loose style." I'm exploring watercolour. Thank you. Best wishes, Sadami

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  12. Prescindir del lenguaje del cuerpo y decirlo solo con los trazos del rostro, simplificando es un trabajo de maestros. Tu lo logras en ese retrato, pones vida y sentido en los ojos. En cuanto al fondo no veo porque no se puede quedar asi, pero se que seguiras trabajando en ello hasta ver a donde puedes llegar.
    Un abrazo.

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    1. Oh, dulce Tina, gracias por una especie comentario! Me encanta crear retratos tanto. Si puedo ver en persona, espero que vamos a disfrutar de retratos en acuarela, así como paisajes. Mis mejores deseos, Sadami

      Oh, sweet Tina, thank you for a kind comment! I love creating portraits so much. If I can see you in person, I hope we will enjoy portraits in watercolour as well as landscapes. Best wishes, Sadami

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      Dispense body language and speak only with the strokes of the face, simplifying is a work of teachers. Your you succeed in that picture, you put life and meaning in her eyes. On the merits do not see why it can not be so, but you seguiras working on it to see where you can go.
      A hug.

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  13. I like the tones and colors you choose for her skin. Beautiful person inside out, it shows in her eyes! Very nice portrait Sadami! :)

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    1. Wow, Helen! Thank you so much for your encouragements. I'd keep up working on portraits. Best wishes, Sadami

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