New portrait

[tseyigai]

Hello,
I'm new here and just wanted to post a recent portrait of myself. I've been wanting to do portraits and using yourself is of course more readily available. I'm planning on doing more with either my wife and possibly some neighbors, "if" I can get them to sit for me. Using photos is of course easier, but oftentimes, this can lead to paintings that appear "flat" in appearance. Comments are welcomed. I like the format of this art community and intend to participate more in it.

Regards,
Stephen Hanson

[Harmonygirl]

Nicely done. I like the strokes. I love teh colour of the shirt and its contrast to the background. Your face, priceless. Nice style you have.

Shannon

[tseyigai]

Thanks Shannon,

I appreciate your comments. Sometimes from family members, my face is perhaps priceless, in terms of my somewhat unkempt appearance, but heck...even as an art teacher I might as well fit the part, heh?

Stephen

[krysta11]

Hello tseyigai,

Welcome aboard!!!

I must tell you , that I love your portrait very much. It is a great work you did here. Congrats!

all the best
krysta

[stirling]

A very interesting composition in this one,welcome to the site and look forward to seeing more of your work.

best from mike.

[Erika Takacs]

Hi Stephen, welcome aboard. I see you have a thing for Velasquez. Interesting self-portrait.

[tseyigai]

Hi Stephen, welcome aboard. I see you have a thing for Velasquez. Interesting self-portrait.

Yes, I do like his work and admire particularly, "Las Meninas."

Thanks,
Stephen

[xxbreezy]

Welcome to ASC and I love your portrait!! Very nicely done and can tell you have tons of talent.....nice job!!
Linda

[tseyigai]

Welcome to ASC and I love your portrait!! Very nicely done and can tell you have tons of talent.....nice job!!
Linda

Thanks Linda. It's good to be here. This seems like a good community for artists.

Stephen

[bergina]

Hey Stephen,
Very nice portrait and if this was created from a sitting, you are an exceptional painter. The eyes in the work remind me of the old masters. Just wondering what your resource was for this work as it is of yourself? Did you use a mirror?
Another question; why do you refer to paintings developed from a photo as potentially being flat? I can see paintings from any resource as being flat. For me, it all depends on the skill of the individual artist. Perhaps you are referring to purely portrait work. I have done a number of portraits, mostly animals and usually from photo’s and never considered any of them flat. Perhaps I’m missing something?
Absolutely no disrespect in your work or what you do as it is phenomenal but I would like a clarification of your flat / photo reference as it may help me in future works.
Al

[tseyigai]

Begina,
Thank you for your kind and thoughtful comments. I used a mirror for doing this. I did it over Christmas
eak, and spent perhaps 3-4 sittings doing it. It was challenging but fun. I looked at your work and was quite impressed by your animal and other paintings. I guess it is possible to create work from photos that doesn't appear flat, but can look 3_D in appearance. There does seem to be something about having the model (person) sitting with you that allows the painter the ability to capture things and the essence of the person, better, than if they had just used a photo. I guess I am just referring to doing portraits here. However, does seem to be difference when one goes out and paints "on the spot," as apposed to using a photo for a landscape as well. But again, your work reflects a great detail of light, care, tone, and color in it without using photographs. Obviously, you would be hard-pressed to get a dog or a horse to sit for you long enough to paint them with any great detail. The draw back here with models is getting them to sit for you, and also, perhaps even needing to pay them for their services, unless there's some type of bartering that could go on.

Hope this helps clarify,
Thanks,
Stephen Hanson