Lioness (no title yet)

[online art]

MY IMAGE(S):
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Critiques/upload_spool/05-13-2002/5678_lioness-finished.jpg


GENERAL INFORMATION:
Title: Lioness (no title yet)
Year Created: 2002
Medium: Oil
Surface: Board
Dimension: 17 x 12
Allow digital alterations?: Yes!

MY COMMENTS:
This painting was taken from a series of my own reference photos, I was trying to give the impression of evening sunlight and a relaxed but still alert mood to the Lioness. The image appears to be showing a little too red when compared to the painting.

MY QUESTIONS FOR THE GROUP:
I'm quite happy with this piece, for the moment.lol, but I'd really like someone to critique it with a fresh eye and tell me what's right but more importantly how I can improve for my next painting.

[Paul J.S., FCM]

There is nothing wrong with this as a picture, or in the coloring/values/textures for the mood you are trying to achieve.
However, the thrust of the paws into the corner leads the viewer's eye out of the picture. What is needed is some element from that corner to lead the eye back up and around to the head.
This might be accomplished by tacking an additional panel on that side, with a bit of brush or dead tree or ...
You also might effect this with creative framing. If that edge of the frame were a silhouette of a bush overlapping the edge of the painting, you could add to the depth (which you have done well) as well as lead the eye back into the painting.

[henrik]

This is obviously very very good.
I agree that there is a small problem with keeping the viewer on canvas on the left edge, but I think it is caused by two things; the cast shadow from the paws is one of the darkest elements in the painting, and, there is a series of twigs leading the eye up along the path and out. There is also an interaction between a twig and a dark spot on the lion's back - the eye sort of jumps between them.

I would increase the contrast on the lion slightly, and remove the twigs. IMO the right side is a bit too dark (photo?). I would like the highest contrast to be near the focal point (i.e. darkest dark, and brigthest bright).

Attached image has increased contrast, no twigs and a brighter right side.

[online art]

Thanks for the critiques, both of you bring up great points.

Henrik, the image you attached hasn't worked, I'd be grateful if you'd try to attach it again for me.

Re: The twigs leading the eye out - I tried to use the twigs/stones to create depth but I think I made them too dark, the top left is actually darker that it appears (light reflected on it) I was hoping that the slightly darker area would have kept the eye in a bit, what do you think.

Yeah the right side is darker on the pic, so it might actually be OK'ish on the painting.

Perhaps a few grasses just in the bottom left corner would help to stop the eye from going out, or would this make the path look too curved and therefore guide the eye out even more.

I have attached another photoshop adjusted image for you to see my ideas, i'd appreciate any further comments.

Thanks again for the comments so far.

[online art]

Sorry Henrik, your pic worked that time, don't know what happened there.

[henrik]

It is difficult with the digital pics for several reasons - light and color does not come across correctly, but there is also things that happen during jpg compression - lines and defined objects (or pathces) have a tendency to become even more defined in the compressed jpg - so what I am talking about may of cource not be true in the real painting...

Anyway - I think the problem with the lower left and indeed the twigs is that the contrast and dark dark lead the eye away. I think I liked it better without the grass at the lower left - Indeed that area should be less interesting (compared to lion). But, you can always make the lion more interesting by increasing contrast there a notch or two - anyway, that was the idea of my edited post. Perhaps if you increase the contrast of the lion the grass works great. And as I said first; perhaps it works great in real life.

[online art]

Thanks for the quick reply Henrik and for taking interest in my painting, your comments have really helped me to understand the different areas much better - Thanks.