Rosa - my first post

[alessandra rosi]

:) I finally got my new scanner/printer, so I decided to post a portrait I did for a friend lately as a present. it's on fabriano tiziano pink paper, about 50 x65 cm, using conte and rembrandt pastels.Even if I cannot change anything, cause I already gave her, please let me know what you think, because I'm here
to learn and improve!! :bangin: Rosa media

[alessandra rosi]

Ok, there's no photo... sorry, I said it's new scan... let's try again...Rosa media.jpg

[alessandra rosi]

Maybye I managed... sorry!

[Shelleya]

This is wonderful Allessandra You did a terrific job on the hair and I love the angle of the face. A few comments I would have is that her skin tones are a little too lavender and clay rose - this is something I have struggled wiht in my own work so I know how easy it is to fall into that trap - I would use some pinks and oranges to warm up her skin tones and make them glow more
I also find the background a little distracting and wonder if a simpler gradient wouldn't keep the focus on her lovely face
Just my 2 cents :)

[alessandra rosi]

Thank you Shelleya, actuallythe colors are alot clearer in r/l, and the mauve I used for the shadows isn't showing that way... and a little orange is showing more... if nobody is going to kill me, I'll try to post it again later...
Alessandra

[alessandra rosi]

OK, let's go again... I did scan the photo one more, hope it's going to be closer to r/l...
Alessandra

[artfulscribe]

It's beautiful, Alessandra! (The skin tones show up much better in the second scan!) I agree, the angle of her face is very dynamic...love it. So, what did she think of it??

Hope to see more of your work!

Roxana

[alessandra rosi]

thank you Roxana, finally I managed to scan in a decent way, even though the photo is still showing a little more darker than real work... but, at least, the colors are closer and not looking so awfully dirty like in the first scan!
As for Rosa, when I gave it to her she was very happy (it was a present..)
and asked me if I would do also one portrait of her husband... (of course, free intended!) Well, I agreed, because it will be a good practise work, for me!!
Alessandra

[ex-limey]

I love your portrait alessandra! Just Beautiful :clap: :clap: I do agree with Shelleya that a more subtle background would be less distracting to the eye. Keep up the good work, but no more freebies!!
Jean. :bye1: :bye1:

[Shelleya]

oh yes the second scan is much better - much warmer :)

[alessandra rosi]

Thank you jean and Shelleya, I really have to learn how to scan properly! Now, with second scan, the colors are just a little darker , but anyway very close to r/l; concerning the background.... well it's been a very bad choice of mine, I agree with you, but it's been a struggle from the beginning, with my husband and a friend telling me: go darker, so her face will pop out more! Besides that I realize that those kind of "rays" are just awful..lesson learned for next time! Please, let me know what would have been your background choice, for this face! Background are so difficult for me! : :blushing:
:bye1: Alessandra

[Bill C]

very nice! I don't find the bg distracting at all, it draws me right in to her face.

[alessandra rosi]

Thank you, Bill! :)

[Nancy]

:clap: :clap: Beautiful Allessandra!!! Wish I could use my pastels like that!! She's gorgeous!

[alessandra rosi]

:) Thanks a lot, Nancy, I'm still learning to use pastels, I started last year, so I'm very happy to meet another pastelist :) and look forward to see some of your work!!! :bye1: :bye1:
Alessandra

[Dorell]

A very beautiful portrait Alessandra :clap:
It has a lovely 'old-fashioned' look to it - maybe 1950's :) . On the background, I think I would have prefered something more simple also. I'm new to working with colour, so I don't feel able to suggest an alternative though, sorry... :o :rolleyes:

[alessandra rosi]

Thank you so much, Dorell, for looking! :)
Alessandra

[Angela]

Allessandra - first welcome!

Second - this is beautiful! I think the second scan attempt corrected her facial colors and you've done an amazing job! Love the hair - and the B/G is very, very cool!

[lene]

Hi alessandra
it is a beautiful portraits :clap: ... glad you managed to show us the warm skintones with scan no. 2 :)

[alessandra rosi]

Thank you Angela and Lene, in the first scan (my first scan ever!) I played a little with the tools, it seemed to me that the photo was faded... wrong move! So, in scan n2, I just "scanned" straight on, without touching anything,
still, it's a little darker... but, as I said, almost like the original work, just slightly darker.
thank you for looking! :) Alessandra

[Hezzy]

Alessandra,
I agree with Bill. I like the background and it does bring me into her face. Also the work you did with the wisps of hair give it a very soft feel. She truely looks like an angel.