zen's gallery

Done from small photo reference. Just by observing.
Tried to achieve watercolor look and feel.
It is my first ever painted portrait so be gentle;-)
Done just auto-tone correction as post-processing.
Verve is awesome! Thank you Taron!

[Taron]

Wow, zen, you've most certainly got the chops! Your FIRST (painted) PORTRAIT?!? ...you are most certainly getting me excited here!
I do like the "staging", too. She's got plenty of character and movement.

Your paper texture works quite well already, too.

Well, this is a highly promising first post, but don't let my reaction lock you into a theme or style. Go crazy, do (and post) anything, I've got a very good feeling I'll enjoy it all!

Oh, and you're VERY welcome!
...and let me know, when ever you're coming down to Split!

Olé!

@Taron

Thanks Taron! I already feel more than welcomed here! I'm glad to be here!
Yes, I never painted anything like this. I mean, a portrait from photo reference. Tried couple of times some sketches from imagination in PS and Painter, but didn't came too far. It was actualy quite disapointing that I left my experimentations and painted extremely rarely. But, I can't neglect it as learning experience. Any work is good! But fluidity really belongs to Verve
All theory which I read/learned makes perfect sense when it comes to Verve. You helped me so much with your guidelines for canvas and settings. It would take me a while to figure out for myself that I can paint canvas texture with brush #9.
I used only brush #2 for everything, only 2 layers (2nd for hat). Didn't touched fluid properties once I'd set it up except partially for eyes (I guess I accidentally lowered fluidity, but retruned it back after noticed). Didn't used wetting (crtrl + d) of canvas as fluid was pretty watery (dind't changed opacity neither).
Mixing/blending worked excelent with smudge. I used only that in order to maintain traditional principles; averaging is a bit artificial from such perspective or I didn't get it right

Sure, I would love to meet you btw. I'm visiting Split from time to time, my parents live in Kastel Sucurac (which is 1st of 7 small towns/places in a row - at north side of Kastela bay). I went to high school in Split, so I know the place pretty well;-)
How long are you now in Split? Do you like the place?

@Pilou Thanks! Lovely avatar

And of course I used eraser, which is also legit

[Taron]

Love the place, it's my absolute favorite thus far! My wife and I live here for 6 years now. I wished my Croatian would be better, but everyone here speaks English, making it tough to learn the language...
...so, yeah, anytime you're around, just let me know!

Hehe great! Yes, Split has that somehting special. Even Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus Augustus knew it!
The people from Split use to say that 'Split is most beautiful city on earth'!
Or in croatian (with adequate dalmatian expression): 'Split je najlipši grad na svitu'!

Nice painting dear zen if you like see nice references - www.quickposes.com and www.posemaniacs.com are very good, I use them not only for quick-sketches.

@ZeroPainter

Thank you I appreciate it.
Yes, catching good pose is essential for convincing humans and even animals. Seems like 1st link has some great chicks in there.
I promise I will practice.

Another doodle based on photo reference.
After merging layers got unexpected result, a bit bleached look.
Then continued in PS (done some HDR tone mapping) just for fun to see how far I can go. roll: