Alonzo Hayden, 1st Minnesota Volunteers

[John Long]

The things that stand out to me are the chin and the ear. The lobe is more prominent in the photo, and the chin is narrower than your painting depicts.

The painting is marvelous by the way and a fair resemblance. A few changes and it'll be spot on.

 

[garyjd]

I hope I haven't offended. Feel free to disagree. After all, as my son Kyle says, an artist can only use his own eyes.

Dan

I appreciate your honest and frank observations. I took the painting and photo and tipped them upsidedown and that really gave me a fresh look at Alonzo's face. I'm going to paint out some of the hair on the right side to help broaden the face, as well as fill out the earlobe. If this does not broaden the face much I'll then go in and add width to those areas you noted. I'm going to take my time as I'd rather it end up looking somewhat like the person rather than have the thing end up in the trash due to being overworked. Thanks again.

 

[garyjd]

Gary,

Looking good but I to agree the real picture he seems to have amore roundish face and your painting he is more squared/angled. I hope this makes sense.

Joe

Thanks Joe. Gotta think R O U N D. ~Gary

 

[garyjd]

The things that stand out to me are the chin and the ear. The lobe is more prominent in the photo, and the chin is narrower than your painting depicts.

The painting is marvelous by the way and a fair resemblance. A few changes and it'll be spot on.

John, Thanks for the comments. Those are two areas that I felt needed some work, but I wanted to see what other folks felt. So I appreciate you Dan and Joe for responding.~Gary

 

[Roy]

Hi Gary, I'm probably way too late as usual, sorry. I think it's fascinating trying to capture a likeness. I agree with your comments about roundness, he seems to have a slightly softer and rounder face without the angular look of the cheekbones and chin. I also thought that he's brow looked lower in the photo and the eyebrows were a little less 'surprised' or raised then in your beautiful painting.

I put a few pictures together with varying degrees of transparency, they may help you see the small differences, sorry the cutting's a little untidy.

All the best..Roy.

 

[Dan Morton]

Gary - You'll get there! For goodness sakes don't even think about putting this in the trash. You already have a good likeness!

Roy - What a good idea!

All the best,
Dan

 

[garyjd]

Roy, Thanks for making the effort to do the transparencies, they're great. I had actually thought of scaling the head down from the photograph and then tracing a printed copy and tranfering that to the original drawing. I decided not to cheat and try it on my own. While I'm sure it's salvagable I'm not so sure it will be spot on. This is what learning is all about.~Gary

 

[Roy]

Hi Gary, if the pics I've posted help to more easily discern the few tiny differences then it's something. I would totally agree with you not wanting to transfer a traced image of the face as you would miss the opportunities to understand the facial structure of the original, and although that in itself is a trial, it must be half the fun of the work. You're doing a fabulous job, I just wish I had the ability to produce form in drawing.

I'm useless with a pencil..think 'Mr. Bean and Whistlers mother' to get some idea.

Looking forward to your progress.

All the best...Roy.

 

[garyjd]

Roy, First off, thanks for taking the time to put your post together. Likenesses can be difficult at times. With the exception of the full eyebrows, Hayden's face is fairly plain.

Out of frustration I started over and completed most of what you see here within three days of giving up on version one. I decided to add a rail fence to fill out the empty space behind the figure. Now on to the face. How close is this one? What could I change or take away? I think the left side of the mouth could be straighter.

 

[Roy]

Hello Gary...I never thought you'd start over, and because I have no idea when it comes to drawing, the pictures were just another way of looking at the differences in the facial details, and you're dead right, likenesses are very difficult, especially with regards to this guy as he has such a smooth face and very little in the way of expression to help you on your way.
I think you've captured more of the soft and rounded look to his face, and agree that with his mouth, it could be straighter at the left side and help to shape he's face,also the eyebrow on the same side looks slightly too arched, although this could maybe add to he's expression. I also think the little shadow under the lower lip is just a touch heavy.

I think you've done an incredible piece of work here and hope my comments help and not hinder, as they are only observations.

All the best..Roy.

 

[garyjd]

I hope my comments help and not hinder, as they are only observations.

Roy.

Roy, While a pat on the back is nice, I appreciate your no nonsense comments even more. I plan on doing at least a half a dozen Gettysburg related portrait figure studies. The Hayden study is probably the hardest of all of them.

I'm going to go back in and work on the few areas you noted.~Gary

 

[Roy]

O.K. Gary...that's great..sometimes another pair of eyes and a reinforcement of our own opinion is all that's needed to help us proceed. I often get 'stuck' when sculpting if there's no one around to share ideas with.

I really look forward to see what's in store for the other studies too.

All the best...Roy.

 

[garyjd]

Here's the finished study. It was a hard photo to work from where the likeness is concerned.

 

[MAB]

Hi Gary compliment an other beautiful illustration.
I'm a much content that you follow a your artistic inspiration..... but one sculpture when?
Saluti MAB

 

[garyjd]

... but one sculpture when?

MAB

Maurizio, Thank you. I hope to start a NEW sculpture soon.~Gary

 

[Jason W.]

Superb work, pard! The likeness is there...Trust us.
And the blue of the sack and trousers is SPOT ON!

Jason

 

[Dan Morton]

Very, very nice Gary! The likeness is excellent!

All the best,
Dan

 

[John Belcher]

Hi Gary,Great painting.I like your style.very inspiring.Kind regards John

 

[Roy]

Hi Gary, I think all your work on this has turned out beautifully, it's a great looking piece, you should be very proud.

Roy.

 

[megroot]

Congratulations Gary,
You've don it. Great Likeness, limited use of colors.
If the last is what you are looking for, stay with it. It is awesome.

Marc