JR portrait in progress 6 - An idea that didn't work

Sometimes creative ideas just don’t work.

At the beginning when I was still working on the basic layout for JR's portrait, Diane wrote:

“I love the little “V” in his chest…that’s where I scratch him until he falls asleep at night. 🥰”

She sent back my layout (Photoshop composite of 3 separate photos) indicating that “V” as a heart so I could see where she meant. When something like that is emotionally meaningful to the client, I feel it’s important to try to convey it in some way in the portrait. Diane’s drawing of the heart gave me the idea to try to “hide” a heart shape in the hair patterns on JR’s chest.

1

This is my photo composite, marked by Diane to show me the area of JR’s chest that she loves.

2

That gave me the idea to capture a heart shape on JR’s chest. Something that would clearly follow that shape, but blend in enough that it doesn’t jump out at the viewer when looking at the portrait. Sort of a “secret” shape hidden in the portrait that would be meaningful to Diane and Michael.

In the light-and-shadow shapes on JR’s chest I could make out a vaguely heart-shaped pattern. I drew a heart outline exactly where Diane drew it on the layout pic. I didn’t know exactly how I was going to portray that.

3

Close-up

You can see where drew a center-line so I could measure both sides of the heart and make sure they are symmetrical.

4

Once I started working on it, I thought the heart was too big, so I reduced the size a little. Not exactly sure how I’m going to do this. I want it to be subtle, not jump out like it’s pasted on. I’m just figuring it out as I go along. I hope it works.

The left shoulder is finished.

5

I sent Diane this pic of what I thought was the finished portrait. After gushing over how magnificent it is, she wrote:

“I know where you’re going with the heart on the chest.  You and I know but I think everyone who looks at it will ask me what’s wrong with his chest.  Is it possible to take it out and just leave it normal?  If not, that’s okay. This is a MAGNIFICENT portrait with or without it.”

She was right, it just didn’t work. So of course I will take it out.

🎨 Prismacolor pencil on “Felt Grey” Canson Mi-Teintes paper, 12 x 18 inches.

"JR” (Am/Can CH Gatehouse Who Shot JR NTD CGC ATT RN CGN)

❤️  Commissioned by Diane and Michael Schurman as their anniversary gift to themselves.