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THE ALEXANDER PAINTING NO.2

Let me take an overall look ... Things I don't like: 1. The tallest building looks phallic, the other one needs a more oriental cast (well we are a hundred miles west of Ankara); and is also too high. 2. I need more perspective in the sky, more aerial direction, more light direction. I'll fix those ... Something like this perhaps ....? The problem of linking the sky to the ground arises. Perhaps I am trying too hard to complete the inside square of the composition? Does it need to be completed or is the dark vertical line on the right sufficient? I will also repeat the motiff on the tower on the waggon wheel and the king's chair (thus creating some patten). The street composition is a simple light against dark variation. On the right I have dark forms and spears against a lightening blue-grey haze. As we scan across street the figures become increasingly light until we have a reverse - light figures against a dark background. But I have that torch on the wall. You can see the problem; behind the two breast-plated soldiers to the left of the king the wall goes from dark to light for no apparent cause? Perhaps I should remove the light and allow the dark to reach the first level ... As I work that out I will detail the figures a bit more. Must elevate the waggon shaft and detail the knot... Also must do something with the foreground ... I am almost past the 'chiaroscuro and design' - the hard part; soon I will be able to place and work the figures. This will be a test because future problems will be mostly be a consequence of flaws that are already built in; and if they persist I might have to do some radical alterations. Nothing is certain.

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