GOOD PORTRAIT MATERIALS

GOOD MATErIAL makes a terrific portrait!!
Good watercolor portraits have more contrast than the standard studio photograph.
in a studio photograph, the subject is lit from several sides, so the light falls evenly.
Below are the materials I worked from for some of the watercolor portraits on previous pages.
I would like to offer some suggestions for creating or choosing material for this project....

The picture to the left was taken without flash in natural light - the subject was lit by natural light from a window close by and by distant windows on the other side. One source of light is stronger than the other.
Do not use a flash - it flattens the face and clothing and makes a less interesting portait. If the picture is taken with a digital camera in a dim room, I can lighten a dark image to capture detail for the painting,
suggestion: Place a baby in a highchair, in suitable light, and turn on a dvd or video briefly - even the most active baby will be still long enough to shoot some excellent material for a portrait. This baby was waiting for her mother to reappear!

The picture to the right was taken outdoors in sunlight -I was able to shoot quite close while he was distracted (maybe worried?) the three quarter view is wonderful to work with and the sunlight makes an interesting light and dark pattern for a painting. these babies are happy but not smiling - an open mouth smile can make a dark hole in a watercolor portrait which is distracting in the final result.

Marianne Hornbuckle
303 County Road 84
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87506
(505)455-3496

E-Mail: presthorn@hughes.net

IF your pictures are digital, you can e-mail smaller jpgs to discuss choices, but for the actual work, I'll need the largest file you have. Send it to me on a disc in the biggest format you can (.tiff preferred)- 3 or 4 MB or larger files are great to work from.
if you have photos, I cannot work from less than a 4x6, preferably a close up (the face and upper body fill the photo).
Call me if you have questions, send me your pictures, and we'll get started!