reisafp
Posts:63
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| 05/23/2007 3:00 PM |
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Hi All! I am new to the site (I have posted a few times, but this will be my first time displaying any work) and I want your advice and criticism. I have been working in pastel for several years. I mostly do animal portraits and some people portraits. This is a portrait of my cat Chloe. All critiques are welcome. Thanks.
Reisa |
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www.reisafp11.com |
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heatherm
Posts:2120
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| 05/23/2007 3:13 PM |
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Welcome Reisa,
This pastel is truly beautiful! I love it. Do you have any highlights in the body of the cat? Black cats do not photograph all that well, so I can't be sure. The head and eyes are great. Love the teddybear. My cat prefers to cuddle up to the scotch tape dispenser on my art table - and yes, my cat can be strange sometimes.  |
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Heather
http://www.heatherartist.com |
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reisafp
Posts:63
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| 05/23/2007 3:24 PM |
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Thank you so much, Heather! Cats are truly unique personalities!
Yes, there are some reddish browns in the middle of the body and some purple and blues on her hips. They didn't show up at all in my photo!
Thank you for the nice comment, though! I really appreciate the warm welcome! |
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www.reisafp11.com |
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Jim
Posts:2748
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| 05/23/2007 9:32 PM |
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Very nice work Reisa,
Looks like you woke her up in middle of a cat-nap.
Jim
www.paintingsbyjim.com |
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All the best,
Jim
www.paintingsbyjim.com |
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vikingwife
Posts:910
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| 05/24/2007 7:33 AM |
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WOW! Nice work Reisa! The detail on the teddy bear is absolutely fantastic! I would have had the same question as Heather about the highlights on the cat.....but you already answered that. It's amazing how much is lost when photographing artwork. Just proves that nothing compares to viewing an original piece of artwork
Jess |
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gene
Posts:1246
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| 05/24/2007 8:27 AM |
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| What hit me first was the unique viewpoint. I really like the directions that the windows form. I also love the way you handled the teddy bear. The different values make the fur look so soft and fluffy. Good job. Gene |
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reisafp
Posts:63
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| 05/24/2007 8:55 AM |
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Thank you, Jim, Jess, and Gene for your nice comments! I really appreciate all the encouragement and support!
I did wake her up when I started snapping photos! She didn't appreciate it much!
I was kind of afraid of the teddy bear's fur when I started, but now it almost steals the painting! As for the windows...she was in the corner of our bay window and I hoped I implied that without having to do two-point perspective OUCH! |
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scochran
Posts:233
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| 05/24/2007 11:26 AM |
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| I like the composition, more at a angle than straight on, makes it a bit more interesting. I like the teddy bear very much. I would have had the same question about the cat as the others, but you have already answer that. Your work is very nice. scochran |
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shana cochran |
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reisafp
Posts:63
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| 05/24/2007 11:46 AM |
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Thank you Shana! Hopefully with my next piece I wont do a black cat so it will photograph better, lol.
Everyone has been so nice here! It is nice to know that there is a site like this where you can come to get ecouragement and advice. |
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www.reisafp11.com |
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myrna
Posts:154
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| 05/24/2007 5:00 PM |
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| reisa...............ditto to all that came before me. It's a beautiful picture, and you've come to the right place for encouragement, advice and inspiration. Welcome |
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Myrn |
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rpartin
Posts:430
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| 05/24/2007 5:17 PM |
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I love it!
Beautiful work. |
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Ron |
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reisafp
Posts:63
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| 05/25/2007 10:27 AM |
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| Thanks Myrn and Ron! This has been such a positive experience for me, I can't wait to get started on my next piece. |
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www.reisafp11.com |
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klippie
Posts:1938
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| 05/25/2007 2:32 PM |
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Love it,
Reminds me of my baby, she died of old age on hubby's chair.
Retha |
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If at first you dont succeed.........don't ever give up! |
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reisafp
Posts:63
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| 05/26/2007 2:42 PM |
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Thanks, Retha!
I am sorry to hear about your baby! I had one pass away last fall, they just break your heart |
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www.reisafp11.com |
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tequi
Posts:51
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| 06/05/2007 12:37 PM |
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Hi Reisa,
I wander through this forum about every month or so to see who is doing what. Thus I came across your request for a critique. The basic composition is good, however, there are no shadows to anchor the objects, and you need to pay more attention to values and hooking them together. For instance, the well drawn black cat is, if you subtract the "catness" of it, a very dark blob with no connection to anything else in your painting. That makes it very difficult for the eye to travel to other areas. If you lighten parts of the cat and bring some of the darks into the stuffed bear with some shadows, I think you will see a better painting.
SL Sorensen |
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reisafp
Posts:63
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| 06/05/2007 1:03 PM |
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| Thank you for the critique, SL! In my painting the cat has more colors in it, unfortunately when I photographed it, this didn't come through. I agree with you about there needing to be more shadows and more darks in the bear. I really appreaciate you taking the time to stop and offer advice |
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www.reisafp11.com |
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tequi
Posts:51
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| 06/05/2007 1:21 PM |
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Reisa,
Photos can distort, and they are difficult to paint from. What I'm talking about, though, is value, not color (hue). Take a black and white photo of your painting, or put a color photo of it into photoshop and desaturate it. You will see what I mean.
SL Sorensen |
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Muckleskate
Posts:107
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| 06/07/2007 3:52 AM |
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| Blacks can be wonderful to paint, and they can be frustrating to paint. I've found that adding some dark value crimsons or cobalt can 'liven' up the shadow areas on 'black' fur coats. Highlights can be suggested with just a few strokes of lighter greys or beiges using a pastel pencil or the edge of a 'hard' pastel. Photos are very hard to use as reference. The shadows and highlights are usually way to dark and too light. If it's a digital photo, you can lighten things up enough to 'see' your subject more like your eye would have. Your bear is nice and soft and floofy, just what a cat would love to cozy up to. Again, a few more highlights and shadows will make it even floofier! |
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Sandy
Signatures Gallery
Brookings Harbor, OR
www.signaturesgallery.com |
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reisafp
Posts:63
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| 06/07/2007 12:53 PM |
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| Thanks for the comments Muckleskate! The blacks are very frustrating!! I really appreciate all the advice and encouragement I have recieved on this website! I will go in and add some more lights and darks to the bear and some more vibrancy to the cat. Thanks again |
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www.reisafp11.com |
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klippie
Posts:1938
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| 06/11/2007 1:36 AM |
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Mucklescate is right, but knowing a photo don't show everything you might have done that....
Retha |
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If at first you dont succeed.........don't ever give up! |
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