JOHN HENRY FOLLEY
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What do you think of these poses for my son's portrait?

2/14/2024

39 Comments

 

It's that time again - time to try to capture one of these cute kiddos on canvas.

This time, it's my third child who was in the studio posing for me. 
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In case you're not tracking, my wife Deirdre and I have a sizable little posse now. Our little man here, from the middle of the pack, is one of the most vivacious little guys you could hope to come across. (In fact, it's fair to say that he's a more vivacious little boy than some people can handle.)
Having him in the studio was delightful. But it was also a bit of work to get a pose out of the little guy! On top of being lively, t.a.l.k.a.t.i.v.e, and squirmy, he's also one of the most facially expressive people I know. One second the light would be just right and the pose would be almost getting there... and the next second the moment would have passed and he'd be leaving us in his dust. But we got some good shots in spite of him! 
I'm including a few of the outtakes here to give you a sense of his larger-than-life personality: 
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This is him on very restrained behavior, doing his best to be still and good: 
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I believe he would have provided excellent material for Rockwell. 

But, as much as I love the comical side, I do want to focus on one of these images that will translate more naturally into a formal oil portrait. 
So let's talk about some of these options: 
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A. This shot is lovable for the tight energy and high contrasts. I'm a fan of the warm gold going on here, of his hair looking neat and tidy, and of the twinkle in his eye. Beyond that, it's not the best depiction of someone who's generally rough-and-tumble and rowdy as a puppy. ​
B. The color and contrast are good; it's a fun, thoughtful pose. This has an air of 'The dreamer.'
C. The abundance of light and color in this is very winning. It's a good amount of focus while also capturing something of the electricity of his smile. I like that we have a good view of his eyes. 
D. This is a very sweet shot and, again, I love the warmth of this background and the soft tones in the face. It captures the little boy time of his life, but we are losing a great deal with his eyes averted. 
E.  In terms of photography, this is the weakest of the bunch. But we find that the shot captures his smile perhaps most authentically of all the pictures taken. Although the focus isn't the best, I'm considering making use of this image. 
F. Has many of the good qualities of E with a bit more polish. 

The jury is still out on this one. Lots to think about here. (Most likely, my final decision will also involve another look at the cropping, as these were quickly cropped for the purposes of this post.)

Tell me: which one or ones is/are your favorite? Comment below -- Maybe you can help me decide what should end up on canvas! 
39 Comments

    Author

    Hello there, I'm John H. Folley, an oil painter in the Boston School tradition. Thanks for visiting the Beauty Advocacy Blog, where it's my job to help you become a more discerning art appreciator.

    I believe that beauty is real and that art has standards, and I'm here to push back against the pretensions of the modern Art world.

    Here you'll find updates on my studio projects, commissioned paintings, illustration, and some of my art philosophy. You'll also hear occasionally from my wife and studio manager, artist Deirdre M. Folley. Peace!

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  • Fine Art
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