Jeffrey Whittle in His Studio (work in progress, 18)

18

I've finally gotten all the elements "filled in." Of course, I've tried to make measured decisions along the way, but now I can truly gauge how each component works with the others rather than simply anticipate how they might function together. In addition to working on the likeness (still a bit to go there), I've been making minor adjustments to the color or value of several of the objects in the room. For instance, I highlighted the wall behind Jeffrey's head and torso for a little more contrast. The little red thing in the lower left corner took a glaze of cadmium red light to warm it up somewhat. Next, and lastly, I need to clean up edges of forms and, especially, the intersections and overlaps of elements.


I moved Whittle's proper left eye up slightly. Its position is better, less droopy, but I still have to sharpen up the edges of its eyelid and cornea. I purposely left everything a little fuzzy as I tried to find where the eye should go. His nose was staring to grow a bit too bulbous; I slimmed it down. I'm also in the midst of making little changes to his mouth. Jeffrey's lips have a natural pursed or puckered shape. I just laid a pale pinkish wash over his mouth to soften the contours so that I can redraw the break between upper and lower lips and model them better. I'll probably raise the proper left corner of his mouth as I did his eye.