6th painting... landscape with house

[johnok]

MY IMAGE(S):
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Critiques/upload_spool/04-05-2007/101891_oil_6a.jpg


GENERAL INFORMATION:
Title: 6th painting... landscape with house
Year Created: 2007
Medium: Oil
Surface: Board
Dimension: 12 x 6
Allow digital alterations?: Yes!

MY COMMENTS:
This took about 2-1/2 days. I'm not so sure I like it. It did not come out they way I wanted it too.

Its my first attempt at painting "little" people. they are standing outside their front door watching the sun set.

MY QUESTIONS FOR THE GROUP:
the mood is supposed to be at dusk. Sun has already gone down and only reflection are in the clouds. the groud and scenery is supposed to be super dark. I not sure I captured this as even as it should be.

What are your thoughts?

I want to do a touch up... what do you recommend.

thanks,
John

[geoartist116]

Its perfect. YOu captured the light fading away, and the evening coming on with the lights on in the house.. I feel like I am there.
sign it with pride.
George :)

[*Violet*]

i think you're nearly where you want to be with your painting ... you do have the time of day pretty well done ... i'd just try and add some warmer tones in the sky and even in the windows ... and since you'd be changing the sky, some of those same highlights would be required to be added to the water too ... another small thing that would pretty easily be addressed is the corner of your cabin ... it's tilting to the left

[Pipyr]

I agree with violet...some warmer tones in the sky, reflected in the water would be perfect. The overall feeling is nice, but I think it just needs a little color to liven it up, especially if they are watching the sunset ;)

[johnok]

Here is another shot with different lighting. I think a little more true to the painting.

Do these colors look better to you?

I fixed the slant on the corner of the house and touched up the trees in the forground on the left. I like this better.

How do these changes look to you?

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/06-Apr-2007/101891-oil_6b.jpg

John

[johnok]

I'm having a very hard photgraphing this painting.

elements that are visible when in person seem to get lost when the picture is taken.

Here is a better shot showing that the detail on the right (forground trees) are not just black masses as in the second photo. It's still not the greatest, but shows the detail that I see.

In person it looks much clearer.

sorry about the poor photos.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/06-Apr-2007/101891-oil_6b_closeup.jpg

[johnok]

I have a question for the forum....

I do my paintings over several days and add layers as I go.

I find that when I'm done and my paintings dry... some of the colors seem to blend into each other more than I want. This happens until they seem almost the same color and tone.

Does fresh wet paint always appear darker? Could I be painting the same color and tone but because the wet looks darker over the other drier parts that I think I'm laying down a darker color / tone when really I'm not?

Does this sound correct? ...if so, how do I get around this?

Thanks,
John

[Wassie]

I'm amazed at what you have done with this painting and I just love that tiny little couple with his arm around her.

[*Violet*]

if the colours just didn't represent themselves properly in the initial photo and the warmth of the second photo is more representative of your actual painting, then the sky and window light are definitely warm enough ... perfect for the time of day and atmosphere ... the slight change you made on the cabin helped a bunch ... the only thing i'd suggest would be some very light highlights in thin horizontal lines to depict slight ripples reflecting the lightest colour in the sky on the pond ... and of course then signing it and hanging it proudly !!! ... and btw ... i think your *little people* are charming !!

[John Jaster]

Hi Johnok, I think this is beautiful and you don't need to change anything. You've really come very far in a short period of time.

I'm going to make a few comments about symmetry below but they're just examples, I really don't think you should change this one at all.

Symmetry tends to creep into paintings because we all tend to put things in order in our minds, yet sometimes it adds a bit of artificial feel to a painting. I lean towards symmetry too and often don't notice until someone points it out. Some examples. Your cottage is nearly square. It has almost identical sized and spaced windows on all visible sides. It has a chimney which is almost in the exact middle of the roof as if when they walk in the door they'll be right at the fireplace. Certainly this cottage could exist just like this but it feels a little too perfect. Next consider the pond: a smooth round shore with evenly spaced clusters of plants around it. And the sky: three layers of clouds in equally spaced bands. Sometimes nature and mankind come together in perfect story book harmony, but then again adding a little imperfection or asymmetry in the painted image can make it a little more natural. It's just something to consider. Really there is nothing wrong with a story book perfect landscape with house.

[SunsetSue]

Hi John, I think you have done a wonderful job. I like the changes you have made. Most of us have trouble with photographing our work and we are all learning as we go. There is a lovely feeling in this piece, the little couple make it romantic. Great job. Sign your name to this one and call it done.
_____
Sue

[jbercx]

Wow, It is a great paint job! like it!

[johnok]

Thank you everyone for the positive feedback on this painting.

John J., thanks for the tips on symmetry

John