Introducing... Gardenia

[GaleFenrir 281]

Alright, so I have just designed a new OC and was wondering what you thought of her(and the portraiture I have done of her).

 

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So, this is Gardenia. Well, technically, it would be Princess Gardenia, but she never introduces herself as such, and she doesn't much think of herself as a princess(and coincidentally, not many others do. Most that know her as a princess tend to forget.). She is the humble half-sister of the infamously arrogant Prince Blueblood.

 

Her talent and passion is in tending to the royal gardens, and her cutie mark is appropriately a gardenia. Unlike her brother, she realizes she doesn't really hold much of any political power.

 

When she is not tending to her garden, she likes to culture herself, studying in all sorts of affairs and is actually quite the accomplished scholar. She does socialize, but she prefers the company of the intellectual to either the nobility or fashion-centric of Canterlot.

 

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Now, this is in Octavia's Hall, so do make comment on the portrait itself, and please do critique, I still have much to learn.

 

And, specifically, if you could recommend what I should do with the background, that would be very much appreciated.

[Orablanco Account 3,707]

Pupils are a bit big and (I have no room to talk here) you should practice a bit on legs. But not bad. Pretty dang good, even.

 

I could never pull off that painted look.

[GaleFenrir 281]

Yeah, eyes are probably the bane of my existence when it comes to drawing ponies.

 

Can't ever seem to get them right, and that sucks because they are pretty much the most expressive and characterful aspect.

 

I should really do some studies,like, constantly.

[Sir Cal Stonehoof 596]

As far as the background goes, you provided your own answer. The gardens at Canterlot Castle. As far as offering a critique goes. It may be the way I am looking at it, but it looks like you had two different poses in mind. The pupils are too big, and need to be brought in. A good example would be the pupil in your avatar.

 

You did an amazing job giving the whole portrait the look of being painted. Her dress looks like a lush fabric, and her mane and tail look like they've been brushed, and cared for by attendants.

 

Practice, practice, practice is the best advice. It looks great though. Thank you for sharing.

[Silverwisp the Bard 2,353]

As Cal said, a garden would make for a fitting background.

As for Gardenia herself, the face is fine, the upper part of the snout coul be a bit more curved, but there seems to be some awkwardness with how the legs attach to the body and the clothes look a bit plain, even if meant as working clothes, maybe add some embroidery.