WIP Critique Lincoln bust

mikec55 · Oct 29, 2011

I haven't picked up a brush in over 2 years so I hesitate to post this considering the overall quality of work shown on this site. I bought this at the recent Chicago show & I'd really like to know if I'm on the right track or should I just pack up the brushes for another 2 years. I can stand some brutally

honest feedback regarding the face painting, so fire away. The hair & coat were painted to provide temporary perspective.
Also, is a catchlight necessary for the eyes? How about a coat of dullcoat spray when all is done & then a touch of gloss to give the eyes a moist look?
Thanks for your help.

Mike

Meehan34 · Oct 29, 2011

I'm no expert but it is a nice start. The face needs more contrast and some more blending once those are applied. I like catchlights but you will get every opinion possible on that subject. If glossing the eyeball I like to just gloss the whites and add the catchlight. If no catchlight gloss the whole eye.

bed172 · Oct 29, 2011

Looks like your off to a pretty good start. I would say punch up the highlights a little more and maybe add some cooler shadow colors in the "five o'clock shadow'" area. And as Mike said a little more blending and you've got it. I like adding a catch light in the eye myself and on these larger scale figures I gloss the entire eye ball.
Good to see a fellow hoosier on here. I'm originally from New Castle myself.

tonydawe · Oct 31, 2011

Hi Mike,

I think Bob's right about punching up the highlights on the skintones. You've got good shadow tones and a good medium skintone but no top highlight colour.

As for the eyeballs, I would recommend you gloss the eyeball rather than paint a catch light. A catch light only looks accurate when you have a constant light direction, whereas glossing the eyeball will create a natural catch light from any direction.

mikec55 · Oct 31, 2011

Mike, Bob, & Tony-

Thanks for all the good advice. I'll try to sit down some time this week to work on your suggestions. I'll post more pics of any progress.

Just yesterday, I saw a photo of Lincoln in Civil War Times magazine. It was taken during his 1st year in the White House & he always said was his favorite. Even tho the photo was black & white, it clearly shows that his eyes were a very light color, just as it says in the painting instructions. I used brown because my bottle of blue/gray ran out a while ago, but after seeing the photo, I placed an order for the appropriate color so that's another thing I'll need to fix.

Bob- There must be some kind of an Indiana/Oklahoma connection. My sister was born here, married a guy from Elk City, & lived in Yukon ever since.

WIP Critique Lincoln bust

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