| |
Community
Magazines
Book Clubs
Book Stores
|
|
 |
 |
| Your interactive artists' community |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| Artists Network
|
| You are not authorized to post a reply.
|
|
| Author |
Messages |
|
mikec@pols
Posts:855
 |
| 12/23/2007 11:30 AM |
 Alert
|
Okay, I need your honest opinion on this...
I did this piece (twice) just before we moved and I'm still not happy with it . It's actually a priliminary work-up of what I want, so there are only a couple of hours invested in it. I'm having problems with the values (I think! ). The deer in the water is meant to be a little vague so as not to draw attention away from the cat. I want the viewer's eye to hone in on the cat and then realize that he is watching something. Then hopefully the eye will find the deer...
This actually happened back in Colorado. A friend had told me that his wife had come up on this situation in the canyon where they live and she stopped the truck to watch. She realized that the cat was waiting for the deer to get cold enough to have to leave the water. Feeling sorry for the deer she honked and caused enough comotion to scare the cat away. She then waited to ensure that the deer could leave safely. I guess I'm not sure if I agree with her actions, but I understand them...
Any ideas????
The title is "A rock and a hard place..."
Mike |
.jpg)
.jpg)
|
"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 |
|
gene
Posts:1245
|
| 12/23/2007 3:52 PM |
Alert
|
| Hmmmmm. I get your idea of not letting the deer stand out too much so as to focus on the cat, but at first I didn't really see him at all. I would bring him out into view just a bit more, I think. How big is this piece? Maybe if I saw it in person, I would have different comments, but I can't quite even make out his face. I wish we had a magnifiying glass on this page so we could enlarge and study these better. I seem to see a white blob of something right in front of the deer's face. Is that white fur on his chest? I just can't see it, no fault of the painting, I'm sure. But I think if you darkened the bottom of the deer's chin, his head would stand apart from his body more. And I think, if it were mine, I would darken the area behind his antlers in order to bring them out just a bit more. I'm not really sure of all this, simply because I can't see it clearly enough. I really like the way you handled the snow, especially on the mountain lion's back and haunches. Great pastel work. I wish I could do this. Gene |
|
|
|
mikec@pols
Posts:855
|
| 12/24/2007 7:11 AM |
Alert
|
Thank you, Gene!
This piece is 16x20. But, the finished work will probably be larger, maybe 18x30 or so. I would like more depth to the canyon walls and the cat needs to be a bit larger for me. I don't know, I might even do it in oils for the final piece??? I have a hard time getting the details to show on here because I have to reduce the resolution for it to accept my pics.
I was after the "At first, I didn't see him at all" effect, but I'm not pleased with the deer at all. This is a mule deer so his chest is white and parts of his face are white...I was thinking along the same lines as you are about his face. I just don't want him to pop out so that he draws away from the cat.
This piece has been a challenge for me in several ways. It has been one of those that I just can't seem to get to 'that' point of satisfaction. As soon as I can get to the final work, I will take all of the suggestions and advice that I get from everyone and put it into place...
You have made several great suggestions.
I appreciate your help and comments, Gene!
Mike
|
|
"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 |
|
Jim
Posts:2337
|
| 12/24/2007 1:47 PM |
Alert
|
This is great Mike! I like the theme and the look.
It may just be the photograph, but maybe if there
was more definition in the cat and just a little more
in the rocks behind the deer, it might create the affect
your looking for. Just a thought. I wish I could create more
definition sometimes in some of my stuff. Easier said then done.
Jim
www.paintingsbyjim.com |
|
All the best,
Jim
www.paintingsbyjim.com |
|
Kim
Posts:435
|
| 12/26/2007 12:44 PM |
Alert
|
| Mike, I think you have some good comments to work with. What amazes me is the snow, ice and icicles. When I think of pastels, I think of having to "draw" with them because I really don't have any idea on how to use them. They are fat and you have small markings. It's always been a mystery to me. You have beautiful blended areas, as well as crisp ones. This whole painting shows a lot of talent. I think you have a winner at this phase already (agreeing that it's not quite complete) and it's only going to get better. I REALLY look forward to seeing the finished product. |
|
|
|
mariart
Posts:55
|
| 12/26/2007 4:20 PM |
Alert
|
| I agree with Kim your technique is excellent, i think your values are working well, I see the problems more in compositional terms. The tree on the left frames the deer, does it really need to be there? Also Im looking at the interaction between the animals, at first I didnt see the deer . The lion didnt lead me to it. I find the line of sight is slightly out on the cat and the deer, I would turn the head of the cat slightly to the right and the deers also, as I think the drama of direct eye contact is what the painting is all about. Sometimes its the smaller details that trip you up, its obviously going to turn out a good painting, look forward to it. |
|
|
|
mikec@pols
Posts:855
|
| 12/27/2007 8:30 AM |
Alert
|
Thank you Kim and mariart!
Kim, I get the fine detail out of pastels by using pastel pencils and sharpening (sandpaper or mesh) the sticks. I also layer to get the other effects. I'm very new to pastels (this is my 4th piece done in them) so I'm not sure of what the 'right' way is...I just do what works for me.
Mariart, I absolutely agree with you on the animals head position. Thank you. It helps to have a family of artist's eyes looking to see things I'm not seeing. The tree on the left is actually a rock wall (hard to see cause of the picture detail, or lack there of). I've questioned that myself, but it gave the feeling of only one way out for the deer. If I take that out I think I would lose that effect...any ideas on that?
Thanks again!
Mike |
|
"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 |
|
sboyko
Posts:55
|
| 12/27/2007 4:58 PM |
Alert
|
The painting seems bottom-heavy to me. I like the rich darks and the robust colors of the cat, and it is well-drawn.
The deer bothers me because it is looking straight-on at the viewer, not at the cat. Could you shift its head so it seems more apparently aware of the cat? The cat seems to be looking stage left rather than at the deer. Since the dramatic tension of the painting is the interaction of the cat and the deer, it seems to me they should be staring at each other. But as far as the painting itself is concerned, I wonder if you couldn't someway balance the dark dark shapes in the bottom third with something going on in the upper part, like dark rocks sticking out? i The upper part of the painting seems a bit hazy, and it takes up a lot of the painting's area. Maybe crop some of that off? Just some suggestions.
I like this a lot, I think you're on the right track, and I definitely like your bold use of color and the well-drawn cat. Maybe a few lost edges between the cat/rock/water.
Susie |
|
|
|
mariart
Posts:55
|
| 12/28/2007 2:36 AM |
Alert
|
| having another look at the rocks on the left (sorry) I still think it needs the space around the deer, if your painting was wider it could of worked, but at the momment its squeezing the left side onto the deer. Would give the deer a way out if it dares. |
|
|
|
Kim
Posts:435
|
| 12/28/2007 1:50 PM |
Alert
|
| Mike, I sure am learning a lot by the many constructive comments on your painting. Besides getting to see your wonderful work, I'm glad you are sharing this. |
|
|
|
1Painter42
Posts:156
|
| 12/28/2007 2:46 PM |
Alert
|
| I love the colors you used and the contrast of the warm colors of the cat and the cool colors of the hills. Maybe you need a little more atmospheric perspective between the cat and the the deer and then more between the deer and the rocks behind it. It seems that the cat in the forground should be stronger and clearer and then things should get hazier, or lighter as they are farther back from the view, especially if it's snowing. |
|
Justine
www.remingtoncreations.com |
|
mikec@pols
Posts:855
|
| 12/29/2007 7:22 AM |
Alert
|
Wow, lots and lots of ideas here! These all help out alot when I get back to do the final piece. I appreciate the help and knowledge shared by everyone that has contributed!!!! It's great to have a family of artists to critique and share with...
Thank you ALL!
Mike |
|
"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 |
|
1Painter42
Posts:156
|
| 12/29/2007 9:35 AM |
Alert
|
Can't wait to see the final, it's a pretty exciting subjet.  |
|
Justine
www.remingtoncreations.com |
|
iglazier
Posts:82
|
| 01/01/2008 10:53 AM |
Alert
|
 Just a quick comment on New years day! Happy New Years to you! I have viewed this work for a coupla of days and read the comments. I have decided that its a great idea---conceptual--since you haven't seen this--you are trying to tell about something that happened in life--but you weren't the viewer. This is so great, to try this. You only need a better compostion! Maybe a few changes, so you need to get material about comotion, and then some references to support your new idea. And make a plan in pencil on scratch paper---and it will come as you explore ideas. This piece shows nice pastel work--and I mean that. Just a change in compostion is needed to express the idea more clear to the viewers. All most there! |
|
Ida M. Glazier |
|
fainsbert
Posts:68
|
| 01/01/2008 3:28 PM |
Alert
|
Oh, Mike, what a magnificent piece! I've studied this for several days. It's so hard to present it on the computer as it really is, but the first thing that caught my eye was the cat. I agree with Susie that the cat's head should be turned to the right so he looking in the direction of the deer, and the deer's head turned ever so slightly toward the cat.
Seems to me the deer saw the cat first, as he looks like he's full of tension (from what I can see). He has just caught the cat's eye, as the cat's body language shows he's not ready to pounce...yet. You caught that part just fine!
I love the background and this you did in pastels! WOW! I'm impressed, Mike.
Lucie |
|
|
|
mikec@pols
Posts:855
|
| 01/03/2008 8:09 AM |
Alert
|
Thanks again, everyone!
It's on the back burner for awhile(studio STILL not done, my dad has been put into hospice back home and a miriad of other issues to deal with right now), but I will get it done! It really helps to have all of these suggestions and ideas. Although I've decided on the changes of the comp and value issues, I'm still trying to decide if the final piece will be oils or pastels...just a small dilemma!
Mike |
|
"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 |
|
jason
Posts:107
|
| 01/03/2008 11:19 PM |
Alert
|
Hi Mike - happy New Years. beautiful colors and concept. I agree that if you move the cat's head a bit to the deer but move the deers head away from the cat while still having the deer moving foward would add to the tension. Another possibility is to paint in less of the deer and suggest the deer more or have the snow fog the deer out a bit. . To suggest direction of the viewer from the cat to the deer, I would have some pastel strokes of water or snow whisps , or atmosphere / wind-flowing from the cat's head towards the deer's direction.
Jason
http://jasonalster.googlepages.com/creativityandrelaxedconcentration |
|
Jason Alster MSc
http://jasonalster.googlepages.com/creativityandrelaxedconcentration |
|
mikec@pols
Posts:855
|
| 01/04/2008 7:09 AM |
Alert
|
Jason,
Thanks for the input! I have taken all of these suggestions in and will use them to help me do the final piece.
I greatly appreciate all comments and support from my fellow artists on this forum...
Mike |
|
"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 |
|
iglazier
Posts:82
|
| 01/09/2008 12:05 PM |
Alert
|
 May I suggest a change in format? Try Horizontal to tell about what happened, or may happen here. It would give you more room. The implied line of sight from the cat to the deer is very good. If you made it a horizontal, you could get your idea all in the piece. And the darkest of the forest, the river, and cat. I can almost see this. try some pencil sketches and see if it might work. |
|
Ida M. Glazier |
|
pastelmimigt
Posts:359
|
| 01/09/2008 5:23 PM |
Alert
|
Hi Mike,
Absolutely beautiful. I love the background - it's so vibrant and enticing - almost makes me want to be in the snow. The cat is definitely the focal point, so you've achieved that. The deer is very subtle so if you want more attention to it I'd brighten the colors more, perhaps cross referencing some colors in the cat for harmony. I think the perspective or composition may be a problem. The cat looks enormous compared to the deer, yet they seem to be very close to each other. That makes me think there is a perspective, depth or composition problem. Also, the cat doesn't look too much like it's looking at the deer - he looks like he's looking straight ahead. Lots of great comments above. I especially like Ida's idea about changing this to horizontal, because it looks like more space between the cat and the deer horizontally might help with the depth/perspective. Again, it's a beautiful painting and definitely one worth pursuing. Your colors and technique are dynamite and I look forward to seeing your final piece.
Michele |
|
My Website
My Blog
|
|
|
| You are not authorized to post a reply. |
|
|
|
ActiveForums 3.6
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|