Tuesday 21 August 2012

Village Girl


Village Girl, Watercolour on Paper, (9.75" x 13.5") 
This is perhaps my first serious portrait in watercolour. The likeness is far from perfect, as you can see :), but I hope to improve with practice.
I would be really grateful to all who give honest critiques and point out the mistakes. Thank you so much for visiting.

Photo Courtesy: Damon Lynch

15 comments:

Carol Blackburn said...

Vinayak this is a wonderful portrait. Did you do it from a photograph?

Vinayak Deshmukh said...

Thanks Carol. I did it from a photograph by Damon Lynch.

Studio at the Farm said...

Vinay, it is a great portrait! Her face, the head scarf, the background are excellent. The only thing that is not quite up to the standard of the painting is the hair. It's good, but perhaps with not quite the same level of detail as the rest of her head.

renate said...

Hello Vinayak:) What a beautiful expression she has on her face. Beautiful. This is a great portrait. I think what Kathryn mentioned about the hair is correct. But even with this hair it's a great portait. My compliments!

Vinayak Deshmukh said...

Thank you so much Kathryn and Renate. I agree the hair needs a litle more detail. I also think I could do well to work on my colour mixing to get more convincing flesh tones. If one looks only at the face and not the scarf, the painting appears to be a monochrome.

juliefordoliver.blogspot.com said...

I disagree about the hair. To me it has form. The light is in the right area and it has maintained the look of fresh watercolor. I blinked a few times trying to find what was wrong with it. Couldn't!
The drawing you did of this young lady is really special.

Anonymous said...

Mouths and chins are the hardest for me.
Since I don't know the model, your portrait looks pretty good to me. Believable. Good modelling on the head.

Vinayak Deshmukh said...

Thanks you so much Julie. Thank you A. Decker!

Crystal Cook said...

I have to disagree about the hair. I think it is perfect. I personally like to have the contrast of a more detailed expression with a looseness in the hair and clothes. I think it adds interest. I thinkj you've done beautiful work here Vinayak! All your portraits have so much sensitivity and feeling and I love that about your work. I am going to offer a tip though because you asked for it, although I hardly think you need tips you are so proficient at portraiture.

When I paint women (and this is just my own personal style) I like to exploit (and I mean that in the best possible way) their feminine features if it suits the mood I'm trying to express. So I might make the lips more full with a more exagerated curve, or I might round and soften the cheeks. I like to think of every person I paint as though I'm seeing them through the eyes of someone who loves them. You know how the people you love best are the most beautiful to you? I try to emphasize on those features and bring out what is there, but perhaps a bit more.

And maybe a tad bit more warmth in her cheeks too.

Ok I'm done for sure now. :D

M.Rajeshkumar said...

very nice.........!all the best

Toby Kinread said...

Brilliant work, the lighting on the face is lovely! Maybe the mouth could be a little softer at each corner but overall it is great! Thank you also for the kind comment on my blog:)

Vinayak Deshmukh said...

Thank you so much Rajesh Kumar and Toby.

Meera Rao said...

I think it's perfect - you have details of the face painted beautifully and so the hair with its form and value and looseness complements it !

Vinayak Deshmukh said...

Thank you so much Meera!

Rasika Mahabal said...

Khupach chhan