Bottles on the Hoosier

[LLBadgerow]

MY IMAGE(S):
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Critiques/upload_spool/01-16-2002/6394_IMAG0001.JPG


GENERAL INFORMATION:
Title: Bottles on the Hoosier
Year Created: 2001
Medium: Watercolor
Surface: Paper
Dimension: 8x10
Allow digital alterations?: Yes!

MY COMMENTS:
This is my 2nd watercolor and only 3rd painting in 20 yrs.

I did learn, not to use blue gaphite transfer paper, because it does not erase! As seen on bottles and flower only.

MY QUESTIONS FOR THE GROUP:
I have never taken any art training, and I am looking forward to straight foward no-nonsense critique.. on any and all aspects that your time will allow.

[walden]

A very good early effort. If you painted from life, there were probably interesting, different-colored reflections in those bottles-- if you look for, and paint as many of those shapes and colors as you see, the bottles will look more realistic. The flower looked very perfectly shaped, and directly facing the viewer-- it might have been better placed and shaped a little less perfectly.

[mjkohler]

Hi, I think that you have a wonderful use of tonal balance in your painting. Quite frankly I think that it is very well done.

I do agree about the flower being a bit too perfect and frankly as it seems to be the focal point of the picture it could have been a little more exciting to look at. A curvey mauvey colour to give some contrast. Though the middle bottle has been placed a little left of centre the flower is very centered.

Perhaps I would also have looked at placing the flower in one of the other bottles.
mjk:)

[sandge]

I think this is an absolutely wonderful work.

The way you have used your watercolour, quite tightly and opaquely, and with great attention to detail, has given this piece a hyper-real quality. You have a beautifully controlled, subtle colouring. This painting reminds me of early Lucien Freud.

I disagree with the opinions above about the flower. I like it's unnaturalistic look. It suits the mood and style of this work.

The one thing that bothers me is the large, light toned expanse on the left. The paint there seems more transparent and out of keeping with the rest. It seems to be fighting the quiet, controlled concentration of the rest of the painting. I would suggest cropping it out. Here's my suggestion (I have also taken a bit off the bottom):

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/17-Jan-2002/6394_IMAG0001_crop.jpg

Please keep painting. :)

[LLBadgerow]

Thank you for your time, Sandra, MJK & Walden.

I agree regarding the flower. Painted only from memory. I would have scrubbed it out....but the blue transfer lines, kept it where it was. The only thing I had to paint from, that stood in front of me, was the Hoosier. I agree that that the bottles could have taken on more colors. And I will remember to look more closely next time. Would adding more color, help them to pop out more?

Sandra, I did cut off quite a bit of the yellow wall, bringing the the pic to it's smaller size. I want to repaint this painting, and I am wondering what one would suggest for a background. I really want the hoosier to be off centered. And while cropping off the yellow has helped the overall compsition, I still want to see something else back there. Any suggestions?

Thank you,
linda












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