[Malachi Maloney]

What, no Pin-ups?!

This is a commissioned portrait done for a privet collector.
The man's name is Hector Escabar Gonzales. He passed away some time ago and they had no photos of him but his old drivers license that was issued in May of 1975.
Hector is actually the brother of the Grandmother of the client. It was very important that this piece come out as good as possible as it will be the only real picture the grandmother will have of him.
Now, I only had a 1x 1.5 inch photo from his old ID to use a reference. Not only that, but the photo was taken in 1975 so it was of poor quality. Not to mention that they don't exactly have the best photographers at the DMV. So, needless to say, I had to do some improvising in many areas in order to bring out some kind of detail in this piece.
Also, I know that I've said that I'm not going to post photo reference anymore, but I'm very proud of how much I had to work on this piece to bring out some details.
So I'm posting reference this one last time in order for ya'll to see how much effort I put into this.

Hector Escabar Gonzales

Painted 100% free hand in Photoshop 6 on a 9x12 inch Wacom Intuos tablet.

Full Resolution Cut Out

Reference Photo

Let me know what you think.


Malachi

[ February 16, 2002: Message edited by: Malachi Maloney ]

[see]

Yeah that's a really nice work ! The only crit if it is one:

Looks a bit plastic. But i like it ! Clean work ...

[The Magic Pen]

Very nice, it does have that very air brush look but I think I prefere that look for a portrait then the painted look that photoshop gives .

[Soulfuct]

wow bro...you did a stunning job on the eyes ;o
more pinups!!!!
kinger loves your pinups

[Biseor]

Great painting!

But I question the subject matter...

[lookitsfrank]

very nice rendering! I think some tweaking on the jaw and lower head is appropriate though. I would add some cool colors down there, otherwise it kind of makes the subject manner a little too monochromatic and flat if you catch my drift... alot better than I do though from a picture that teeny!
here's a quick paint-over to better illustrate what I'm talking about. hope you don't mind!

Frank

[ February 16, 2002: Message edited by: lookitsfrank ]

[A. Mount]

Whaaat are you talking about? Christ, man. ..!

[Malachi Maloney]

Thanks for the comments and critiques everyone.
I didn't expect many people to comment on a boring ol' portrait. But I'm glad to hear your comments non the less.

lookitsfrank~ No, I don't mind that you did a paint over. But I've got to be honest with you, I really don't know what you're trying to illustrate to me here. I think the hues you added totally throw the piece off. But that could just be me. =/
Thanks for the comments though, I do appreciate it.

M

[spooge demon]

Hi Malachi,

This is really sticking your hand in a bear trap. This is one of the toughest jobs you can get. But on the positive side, nobody remembers exactly what he looks like either, so it is a little easier. I would suggest finding a model with a similar head and match the ref photo with good photography. You can get the ref you need, but stick to the forms and shapes from the subject. You can then paint a solid head a little easier, and as I mentioned, perfect likeness is secondary.

I know that the pinup style that you are developing has a similar look to an older airbrush style, in that you have hard shapes with very soft rendering with the shapes. So I am not sure how much this will help, as the way I paint is edge and shape dependent.

I agree that the color is a little frankfurter, it is a red and red on red. You could vary that either side of red, a little warmer, a little cooler. The head does have a lot of local color variation, and the clich�s of what goes where (nose a little warmer, lips cooler, eye sockets cooler, etc.) is a good thing to memorize. It will really help the head come alive. It is very subtle, but heads are seen so often that you have to be extremely precise, as tiny variations of any kind(edge, shape, color) have a huge impact.

The other aspect is shape design. All your shapes, with the exception of the obvious ones, are very soft. You have to find the variations in edges that happen for so many reasons and play them up some. Look at where the hair meets the skin. Can you see where, relatively speaking, where there are harder and softer shapes? In some areas it is almost lost. You see this on most heads you will come across. Cutting a mask with a razor will give that cutout-2d look.

But as I said, maybe that is your intention.

If it is, then you have to be EXTRA good at designing them, like a good comic inker is, so that it is graphically appealing and also describes the anatomy.

If you want, someone was playing around with Sargents lady Agnew head around here. Make a copy of that, no a forgery. Look at it as closely as humanly possible. You will get a lot out of that, I think.

And this is not to say you have to paint like that or like me! Please no. But it is such a basic and academic way of doing things it will help you with your own style a lot, promise.

I did this cause I know you don't mind...

[Malachi Maloney]

spooge~
Thanks for the help.
As far as the 'tough job' thing goes, I'm just taking what I can get at this point. =/
Perhaps when (and if) I start getting more job offers, I'll start being more choosy.

Thank you so much for taking the time to help me with this piece. I've read your words carefully and I'll take all of your advice very seriously. I'll go dig up that painting you're talking about and I'll study it as best I can, as I really NEED to develop a better personal style.

Thanks again for all your help.
By the way, the paint over is beautiful. Thank you.


Basement bound~
Thanks for the comments and the crits.

Malachi

[Basement bound]

Spooge,
I have to ask you this question, just because while looking at your work I just wonder. When you are painting digitally in photoshop do you paint on one layer like in tradition painting or are you a user of layers and their modes. I ask this because the style you use depends on alot of colour layering, and I am not sure but it looks like you like to use the eraser alot like a paintbrush. Am I correct in this or am I off?

Malachi,
the only thing I can say is I think the face needs some colour variation, a dash of contrast, and a smiggn' of hard lines/edges. I like it, but too soft and fluffy for my taste. If you were going for the classic airbrush stlye, consider it achieved. The background hailo around the head takes away from the figure head.

JA