Oranges and Cherries

[Anonymous]

MY IMAGE(S):
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Critiques/upload_spool/04-27-2004/22078_orcherrywc.jpg


GENERAL INFORMATION:
Title: Oranges and Cherries
Year Created: 2004
Medium: Oil
Surface: Canvas
Dimension: 12 X 16
Allow digital alterations?: Yes!

MY COMMENTS:
This is one of the new series still life series I have been working on. The purpose of the series is to loosen up my brush strokes (from high realism towards more impressionistic), to investigate color theories (one strong color next to another to energize both), and to play with composition (unplanned, created while painting). Please do not interpret perspective changes or "tilting" of objects as mistakes to be corrected, as this is part of the style I am working in. Thank you.

MY QUESTIONS FOR THE GROUP:
Does this painting "feel good" to you? What do you think of the composition in general and it's flow? Does the painting feel loose (fun, spontaneous) or tight (studied, planned)? Is there an area (or several) that stand out as not working with the rest of the piece? Is there something that is working very well, and I should continue doing? Are the color selections and positioning helping to strengthen each color (reds more red because next to green, etc.)? Any other comments, neg or pos, welcome. I appreciate any imput to help me learn about my work. Many thanks.

[raphaël_eko]

Having seen your image prior to reading your comments I'll let you know what first came to mind: "well that's fun!"

I certainly think you were successful in your attempt to project a loose and fun feel into your work. I really like the use of bright contrasting colours and the blurry feel of the light off the cherries at the top of the image.

My only real concern come from the perspective - but you are aware of that so I'll follow your directions and refrain from comment. I'm also unsure how to read the light on the background especially as it relates to the left-hand (my left) post of the chair - I get the feeling that it needs some change in the lighting...

I look forward to seeing any additional such work from you - who ever you are... ;)

[arsinoé]

That's a joyful, bright piece!
I love the greens and oranges.
What I like less is your ultramarine blue: too out-of-the-tube blue for my taste.
I don't like it much on the tablecloth, and even less on the chair: I don't think darks should be blue on the chair, and the whole background colors worry me a little. I don't think they fit. Maybe if you darken then and add some more green there it would be better?
I love the peeled orange in the foreground: a "vanité"?

[Kent]

I agree--this is a fun painting. For a composition you made up as you went along, this does an excellent job of directing the viewer's eye. Everything, from the curved stem in the foreground to the pointing leaves at the back, is guiding the eye from one part of the painting to another.

Arsinoe has a good point about the blue; it's almost overpowering all the reds and oranges.

Kent

[DuhVinci]

Like two paintings in one! The bowl of cherries tells one story, the peeled orange another. I think the two combine to tell an interesting tail. I love the colors.

[roberj]

Life is...

I like the bright primary colors, it has an almost commercial brightness, sort of a silk screened label color pallet? A happy blue table with an early 1950's feel to it, like a memory with all the warts removed. My only nit is that a couple of the cherrys look squashed.

Bob

[Valri Ary]

The brightness of the fruit and table are wonderful. I don't know your other work so I like what your loose style and you seem comfy doing it. It doesn't look forced. However, the blue on the chair and the spindle on the left of the chair cause me to pause. The blue is just distracting. And then the left spindle is just not done or finished. It looks forgotten, overlooked. I like the table and the cloth on it very much along with the bowl. I secretly LOVE the bowl best of all!

[laudesan]

Having seen your image prior to reading your comments I'll let you know what first came to mind: "well that's fun!"

I certainly think you were successful in your attempt to project a loose and fun feel into your work. I really like the use of bright contrasting colours and the blurry feel of the light off the cherries at the top of the image.

My only real concern come from the perspective - but you are aware of that so I'll follow your directions and refrain from comment. I'm also unsure how to read the light on the background especially as it relates to the left-hand (my left) post of the chair - I get the feeling that it needs some change in the lighting...

I look forward to seeing any additional such work from you - who ever you are... ;)


Just what I would have said..

Also I think you need to deepen your values, punch up your shadows.

I have not read the other comments, so you may already have been told this..:)

[gnu]

Well I love it!! it's juicy, spontaneous and very inspired composition with the items coming in from the sides..I like that!
perhaps a touch more colour variation on that stark cloth, but otherwise it works for me..yum yum yum..(so ..RU Ceu, or DJstar..? huh??) :D:D

[Anita Orsini]

I love the juicy look of your colors and your loose brushwork. This is a fun, cheerful painting. Personally, I like it cropped toward the bottom of the orange on the plate. There just seems to be more down there than is necessary to tell the story and it distracts from the part that really works so well.

The bright blue of the chair bothers me. I think being so close in color, intensity and value,it seems to compete and put itself on the same plain as the table cloth. The lost edges of the left side of the chair seem to be on a different, more distant plain than the rest of the chair back and I am wondering if these things were done intentionally.

The fruit is wonderful and fresh and I appreciate the fact that you have set so many goals to work toward here. I think for the most part you were quite successful.
Anita

[FriendCarol]

It could be your scan, of course, but the red of the cherries and the orange of the orange feel too similar to me; made the image seem cartoonish to me. Also I missed the white pith on the underside of the orange peel -- this may also have contributed to the sense of unreality I felt at first sight of this piece.

Btw, this combination of blue & orange is notoriously 'unpleasant' for many... These particular complementaries work well together only if they're separated by black or white (even thin lines); otherwise they tend to 'vibrate' or resonate. The effect on many folks particularly sensitive to color is analogous to the effect of flat notes on a musician: almost painful! One author I read recently (on color) had put together a checkerboard of these colors to illustrate the problem, and described it as 'giving him a headache!'

[bluemagoo]

a happy painting!. like your application of paint[brushwork]
youve got a lot of good comments.
i think it works well as happy, loose, good flow.