Lady No. 3 - 12" x 15" - Acrylic

Richard_P

This is the 3rd painting in my Lady series where I paint portraits in a classical lighting style but with a modern feel, and using acrylics.

These paintings are not of real people.

Instead they are carefully composited images using Image Processing and Artificial Intelligence to explore subtle emotions and expressions of character that we see when looking at faces. I'm interested in exploring different aspects of the human condition through these paintings.

MichaelD

Wonderful work @Richard_P

I would not have known that its not a real person, or that its acrylics unless you had said.

I am amazed how some artists can get acrylics to look as rich and interesting as oils, which you have done here.

  

anwesha

Again such a gorgeous painting of  the subject, the lips, the delicate work on the nose…. I love it!
the place where the neck meets the shoulder, just above the clavicle, the highlight seems to be giving a feeling of swollen part rather than a hollow above the clavicle. May be it is just an illusion from the photograph.

Marinos_88

That's class!
As I said before, I think it's a brilliant idea to paint automatically generated images.
I agree with anwesha about the light value mass.
Well done, job job

tassieguy

Just wonderful, Richard.

I'm looking at it on my phone. Will write more when I get back to my computer where I'll be able to see it better.

Richard_P

Thanks all! Good point about the neck. Think it was the same in the source image, but will double check..

toujours

Another really well produced work.   Amazing what you are doing with plastic paint.
Yes, the neck does not seem quite right.  Should there be a slight swelling look on the left cheek/nose area also?  The more I look, the more it seems raised as if a bee sting reaction has begun in a localised area?
For all that, I must say, for some reason, I prefer this to your last one.  I was not comfortable viewing the emotion in the last one.

tassieguy

It's hard to believe it's acrylic. The gradations of value are so subtle - especially around the eyes nose and mouth. The hair is also amazing. I love the colours, too - the pale blue dress and the cool, dark background work beautifully against the warmer skin tones.  She has real presence. You can see it's a painting but the realism is so sharp. You should be very pleased with this, Richard. It's as good (although not as harrowing) as your last. I think you might have found your niche.   

Richard_P

Thank you both. I am pleased with this one. Feel like technically I am getting better with these. I have more I want to do as well.:)

RUESGA

oh wow! this is very elegant super nice

Richard_P

Thanks

GTO

Fantastic job.  She looks very real.   I like the theme that you are exploring. 

allforChrist

Beautiful lady and painting.  You did a wonderful job coming up with her and executing.

I noticed the light mass also as well as the right white of the eye appears too dark.  I could be wrong but it might be worth a check?

I love when you finish and share a painting.  They're a delight to look at.

Richard_P

Thanks both. Good points, I'll check the eye too!

Abstraction

Big comment: Expressive realism in a painterly manner. There's personality and depth - you wonder what's behind the eyes because there is a certain fragility there.

Small comment: I'm ok with the darker eye, it creates an affect of mystery - but the shoulder does look slightly swollen, although it's minor; it probably needs the subtlest, subtlest tweak.

Richard_P

Thank you

outremer

Oooohhhhh, that's great!

But, acrylics???? It must be a killing task to do. Or the trick is called "Golden Open"?

ArtGal

Beautiful portrait again @Richard_P! 

Richard_P

Outremer: Golden Open dry slower than normal acrylics, but still quickly compared to oils. Oils are much easier to work with if you have several hours free each day, but I might only have 30 mins to 2 hours every few days. Because I can store colour mixes I can maximize what I can get done each session.

But, yes, it is harder!

Thanks ArtGal

Richard_P

I've reworked the neck area a bit. I think it's better but hard to say at the moment as it's subtle and it's night here now.

mikestpierre

Amazing the richness you've achieved with acrylics!

CBG

@Richard_P

How do YOU feel about the dark edge on the right (her left) cheek/side of her face?

Hint: There is no wrong answer.

Richard_P

CBG said:

@Richard_P

How do YOU feel about the dark edge on the right (her left) cheek/side of her face?

Hint: There is no wrong answer.

Some of that is due to the photo, I've just taken a much better one.

Richard_P

I realised the original photo was slightly out of focus when zoomed in and wasn't the best quality. It's hard to take one when it's so glossy, but here's a much better photo where the colours are better, you can see the darks and the detail clearer, and where I have retouched the neck. The dark shape in the background is just a shadow, it's super glossy!

tassieguy

It looks even better now, Richard. 

I have come to accept that a photo of a painting, however good, can never allow us to fully appreciate a painting. 

Richard_P

Thanks Rob. Yes, and it's damn hard taking photos that look like what we see in a painting!

Abstraction

What do you varnish it with? It's acrylic so I've no idea what you do. It's difficult to get genuinely glossy in varnishing oils with varnishes that don't yellow and are fully reversible.

Richard_P

You can use varnishes like Gamvar too. With acrylics you can apply a gloss medium prior to varnishing to make it look more glossy.

GTO

Looks great.  Since she is an AI personality what sort of backstory does she have?  There is probably some AI app that can create one for her based on the photo.  

MikeDerby

Wow!

Richard_P

Thanks both. Nice to see you back here Mike!

paintordie

Love the creative idea ! Great imagination! 

Richard_P

Thanks

Mio

It's very well done. Sweet work!

Richard_P

Thank you Mio!