Maggie429
Posts:467
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| 09/16/2008 8:25 AM |
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Hi, Its been a while but I've got a problem I need to address. I started this painting - both the motorcyclist and the lake have a meaning (Mud Lake) and had to be in this painting - I am at a standstill on how to finish this or make this more dramatic? I am not sure putting in trees along the front of the lake, bushes, leave it open, bring in more colour or leave the cyclist the main point of the painting. I am totally at a block. Maybe you can suggest something or comment? Much appreciated. On an added note- I find landscapes very hard to do.
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Mgi
www.hoviscreations.com |
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Theriot
Posts:57
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| 09/17/2008 9:10 PM |
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Hey maggie!
I'ts been a while for me on this forum but I'm glad to see more of your work.
If I may be so bold to think I could provide some help, I'd have to say this:
Start with some colors in the sky, then the far shore should show a darker version of the prominent sky color but it should be lighter than the foreground. The lake needs lighter reflections from the sky darker reflections on top of that of the far shore. Indicate some trees on the far shore and paint a tree or two(or bushes) on the near shore. The motorcycle needs a flat surface to travel on. Don't forget shadows for everything in the foreground.
Start there maggie. Youve got a good start.. just need to build on it. I know you will do great!
I can't wait to see how you do.
Robert |
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jAlida
Posts:71
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| 09/17/2008 9:39 PM |
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| Your motorcyclist is awesome! I love the details you have put in him as your main subject. You have a lot of horizontal lines evenly dividing up the rest of the picture. Try adding some texturizing colors angling from the viewer's left across in front of the cyclist to lead the eye up to the edge of the lake. You might simply play up the darker sand you currently have. I think you had the right idea there, just accent it a bit more. Yes, I agree with Theriot that adding reflections to the water and shadows to the forground would add a lot to your painting. These will also help diffuse the horizontal repetition. I would love to know the story behind this painting. |
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jAlida
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Kassie
Posts:339
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| 09/17/2008 10:45 PM |
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Hi, Maggie,
So far so good. I know how difficult the motorcyle was I have 2 paintings with my boys on one. I cropped it close to avoid all the detail.
Suggestion: Have you thought of placing a tree in the foreground, as if it were forward of the picture plane. Whenever I contemplate a major change I try it out in photoshop. Before photoshop, I did a color sketch on a piece of paper and laid it in position.
Kassie |
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jAlida
Posts:71
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| 09/22/2008 9:44 PM |
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| Hello, again, Maggie. My husband took a look at your painting (he's a hobby photographer with an artistic eye), and suggested you might like to add a bit of dust kicking out from the cycle wheels to suggest motion and speed. Have some fun with it! |
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jAlida
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Maggie429
Posts:467
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| 09/24/2008 7:57 AM |
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Thanks for all your suggestions...
Help! ... my brush went wild one night. Honest! Now, Mud Lake looks like Mud River. Shud I go back to the serene idea of the lake? I kinda got carried away but I like the colours. I still have to work on the cyclist and the front ground area but it is much more dramatic! What do you think? Too much? Too busy?
Story - a girlfriend who had just been diagnosed with the 'C' just met her love of her life and they cycle all over. She just happened to have a picture of one of the areas they cycle through. Thus, the story of Mud Lake. |
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Mgi
www.hoviscreations.com |
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billmahler
Posts:223
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| 09/24/2008 8:23 AM |
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Maggie
What a change!
Add some more reflection of the sky in the lake and frame it.
I wouldn't futz too much more with the cyclist.
Good luck to your friend.
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..send ye not therefore to know for whom the bell tolls- it tolls for thee. John Donne
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Maggie429
Posts:467
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| 09/24/2008 8:44 AM |
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| Hi Bill - thanks for the comment. When it comes to landscapes, I find I do not have the patience I do when doing figures. I can work on the bike and rider alot, but when it comes to landscapes, I want to get it over with as I find this so hard. As you can see, I threw in a little 'group of seven look' (water) but actually really like the way it all turned out. I surprise myself at times. I guess this is a good thing! ;> |
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Mgi
www.hoviscreations.com |
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jAlida
Posts:71
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| 09/24/2008 8:25 PM |
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| Woah, Maggie! What an awesome difference an evening and a little inspiration can make. It looks soooo much better! Wonderful job. And, yes, I too wish your friend all the best. |
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jAlida
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Maggie429
Posts:467
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| 09/25/2008 1:31 PM |
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| Thanks jAlida - I am hoping to work on the biker this evening and see where it goes from there. Then as suggested work on the sky a bit more. Not quite sure on how to do the gravel or dirt road... but I'll figure out a way. until my next post.... take care |
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Mgi
www.hoviscreations.com |
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scootergirl
Posts:139
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| 09/29/2008 11:44 AM |
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That'a girl. Loved hearing you say you went a bit wild with the brush, that means you were having fun, and what a difference..
I only have one thing puzzling me...I do not SEE any sky. Just white canvas? Will you be adding a wee bit of pale blue to the area above the trees?? Also, try very carefully going along the furthest part of the lake and lighten it a bit more working forward, and haze out the trees on the far left with just a bit of soft glazing. It will push the distance back a bit more.
On the tree line .....have you ever taken a palette knife, sliced a thin bit of paint onto the edge of the blade, and slice that edge along the water line between the trees and the actual water itself? It has a nice effect.. I will see if I can show you an example...BRB...(grin)
Hope this helps a little... |
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www.marleysrainbowartstudio.com |
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Maggie429
Posts:467
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| 09/30/2008 7:22 AM |
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Thanks Scootergirl... Wow, lovely trees and reflections - obviously landscapes are your strength. I tried the reflections on my water and I liked the way it turned out. Darkened the sky and forward trees to give it some depth. Thanks for all your help... A bit more on the trees and update his face and I think I'm just about done.
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Mgi
www.hoviscreations.com |
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Maggie429
Posts:467
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| 10/07/2008 8:16 AM |
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| I wonder if anyone can help me figure out what to do with the trees in the background. They do not seem to be in the distance but along the waterline up and down instead of further and closer (if you know what i mean). I have tried making the distance onces a bit lighter, but I do not think I'm quite getting this illusion of distance. Any other suggestions welcome. |
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Mgi
www.hoviscreations.com |
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mikec@pols
Posts:888
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| 10/07/2008 3:55 PM |
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Hi Maggie,
I really like the changes you've made on this,. I don't come around as often as I used to (just too busy!) and I missed out on commenting on this prior to now...
First off, let me compliment you on the bike & biker(Excellent work!!!) and also your foreground.
I can also see the lack of depth in your trees and I'm thinking you need to change a few little things and you'll be on your way to framing this. First, I would change the top line of the trees...it follows the shape of the river bank and that just doesn't look right to me. Next, I would add some grasses or shrubs close to the shoreline and slightly darken the bases of the trees so that the grasses will show. The shoreline looks a little un-natural to me in that it isn't quite level. If you look across a lake or river, even when there are cuts in and out, the shoreline is still level. In other words, if you put a cut in the shoreline you need to 'step' it up or down, but it should still be a level line not running up or down hill. Am I saying this right??? I'm not sure if I'm getting my pint across, but kust look at pictures of lake and rivers and you will see what I'm talking about...
Hope I've been of some help!
This is looking really nice...
Mike |
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"You either grow or regress...nothing stays the same...." (unknown)
"A man may fall several times in life, but he is not a failure until he says that he was pushed..."
www.portraitsoflifestudio.com |
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Kassie
Posts:339
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| 10/07/2008 10:57 PM |
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Maggie,
I love seeing the successful progression of this painting. I just spent my day drawing a motocrycle with a young lady on it. Kudos on your motorcycle. I hope mine turns out as well.
Kassie |
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Maggie429
Posts:467
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| 10/08/2008 1:45 PM |
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| Thanks Kassie, Mike - I can spend hours on the biker and bike but it is the landscape that gets me all nervous. I have been walking around this painting but at least now I can try to fix the background. Because I am so lost on landscapes, you have given me another stab at it without giving up. Okay, when you mentioned the river bank is not level (shoreline), do you mean it should run straight across the page? If the shoreline was straight, then the trees would not 'follow' the shape - right? (mind you, it will all get changed anyways... but at least I know what I'm striving for). I like the idea of putting in some shrubs and grasses, thus... until next time.. one more question - do you think I really need any shadows in the front from the bushes or rocks? I guess a bit wouldn't hurt! I think! |
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Mgi
www.hoviscreations.com |
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Kassie
Posts:339
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| 10/09/2008 12:18 AM |
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Maggie,
If this is a lake, the shore line would be irregular as you have painted it. It's the height of the trees that don't seem to coincide with the shore line. I think they need to be shorter, something like the first picture in this thread.
Kassie |
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Maggie429
Posts:467
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| 10/09/2008 8:44 AM |
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Hi Kassie - it used to be a Mud lake but ended up as Mud River! Once Iput in the rocks, it didn't quite seem like a lake anymore.
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Mgi
www.hoviscreations.com |
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Kassie
Posts:339
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| 10/09/2008 10:02 PM |
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The "rivlets" around the stones should have told me. The water is definitely going in one direction. I still think the shore line is Ok and it is the tree height. This is really a nice painting. The scene now reminds me of the Pocono Mts. in Penna. This could be somewhere along the Delaware River in the fall, (maybe with a little more mountains beyond the trees.) Don't change it though, it's progressed very nicely as is.
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Maggie429
Posts:467
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| 10/10/2008 7:27 AM |
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Thanks again for the help. As you can see I have changed the trees a bit and it now had a bit more depth. I still have to incorporate some colour into the trees or more definition... not sure which but it is coming along thanks to you guys. Much appreciated. Any other suggestions welcome. Wondering if I do need the splash of colour on the front bank (bush)? Or, quiet down the river some? Sometimes I just get overwelmed.
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Mgi
www.hoviscreations.com |
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