Jeffrey Whittle in His Studio (work in progress, 19)

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Finished. These photos reproduce the painting's actual colors a bit more faithfully. Surprisingly, I got better color results using four 60-watt incandescent bulbs to light the painting than with previous setups using twin 500-watt tungsten lamps or natural illumination (northern light around 2 pm.) Go figure. The camera, by the way, is a several-years-old Sony 4.0 mp Cyber-shot. This painting, at 21 x 16 inches, is slightly smaller than the previous example on the blog.

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

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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.

Jeffrey Whittle in His Studio (work in progress, 17)

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Jeffrey Whittle in His Studio (work in progress, 16)

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Jeffrey Whittle in His Studio (work in progress, 15)

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Details of Whittle's art in the painting. His work is acrylic over topographic and navigational maps, mounted on board or canvas.

Jeffrey Whittle in His Studio (work in progress, 14)

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Detail showing the green earth and verdaccio underpainting on the face and hair.

Detail of the modeling on the jacket in shades of ivory black over morellone (red-violet iron oxide.)

Jeffrey Whittle in His Studio (work in progress, 13)

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Jeffrey Whittle in His Studio (work in progress, 12)

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Jeffrey Whittle in His Studio (work in progress, 11)

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Jeffrey Whittle in His Studio (work in progress, 10)

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Jeffrey Whittle in His Studio (work in progress, 9)

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Jeffrey Whittle in His Studio (work in progress, 8)

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Jeffrey Whittle in His Studio (work in progress, 7)

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Jeffrey Whittle in His Studio (work in progress, 6)

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Jeffrey Whittle in His Studio (work in progress, 5)

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Jeffrey Whittle in His Studio (work in progress, 4)

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Jeffrey Whittle in His Studio (work in progress, 3)

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Image transfered to panel, apparent in faint red-chalk lines. A few lines are strengthened with black casein.

Jeffrey Whittle in His Studio (work in progress, 2)

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Cartoon on artist's "vellum," showing red chalk on reverse and traced contours.

Jeffrey Whittle in His Studio (work in progress, 1)

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Initial drawing in graphite on Rives BFK paper, same size as panel.