Two Small Cloud Studies- your opinions please

[Deborah Secor]

Both on peach colored La Carte, 6x9", done in my class as demos last week. These were meant to be fast, fun, just to see how I liked the compositions. I'd welcome your opinion on either or both.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/15-Apr-2008/23609-DSCN7991wc.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/15-Apr-2008/23609-DSCN7993wc.jpg

Do you think either one would make a good larger, finished painting? And if so, would you do it just as it is, or make some further refinements? All C&Cs most welcome!

Deborah

[David Patterson]

Very nice Deborah! I love the light in the 2nd one.

David

[Donna T]

These are both very nice, Deborah. You have such a way with clouds! I can see a larger version of the first one. That little piece of dark land really sets off the clouds. It almost seems like that dark shape is being balanced by the huge mass of the cloud to the right. I think the second one is very dramatic but it's also kind of scary. I'm one of those people who wishes she could get under the bed with the dog when the sky looks like that!

Donna

[Deborah Secor]

Thanks, David. That light is sure what it's all about, isn't it? There's a bit more detail in the clouds than shows here. You can go to my blog and click on them to see them quite large, which gives more sense of the colors I've used.

Donna, I understand! That cloud is pretty amazing. Unlike you, I'm the kind who loves to stand outside and wait as these giant cloud formations come closer and closer and closer, all the while looking at the changing colors... It really excites me. Out here in the desert you can literally drive between these giant systems, hoping to skip between them.

Deborah

[chatfieldstudios]

They are both just lovely, colorful and full of texture! I think the first one would make a good larger piece without too much more detail. The second one is a bit ominous for me (I grew up in the Midwest...that says run for the basement!). But I'm sure whatever you decide, the cloud master will prevail.

[water girl]

They are both wonderfully done. The second painting has a bit more drama and may translate better into a larger painting.

[klord]

Deborah, both of these are beautiful. I especially love the bottom one with the feeling of power just ready to exlpode! One small thing on the bottom one, it feels a little like the top of the paper is squishing the cloud, do you have more space surrounding the cloud in the original? I think this one really has potential for a larger, very dramatic piece.

[Muffin_4377]

Okay....diggin' both pieces, and I think larger of both would work ( i think each would appeal to different personalities :) )

The second one however (to me) gives off a "mushroom cloud" feel. I wonder if you slant the rain, if that would cure it. great colours and "weight" in that cloud though.

Ditto to storm cloud watchin....sat outside many a days/nights during some pretty wicked storms. LOVE IT!! Had a lightening strike happen less then 40 ft away from me last summer....my ears rang for a week!!

[NickyW]

Really lovely work Deborah, well done..

[Trilby]

As always, Deborah these little demo sketches of yours have a wonderful character all on their own. The first is a definite go for enlarging. I agree with the comments that the second is a bit fear inspiring and too me looks more like a massive tornado than a monsoon cloudburst, thinning and slanting the rain fall portion might mitigate that feeling. I do like the touchof color on the rain fall.
TJ

[Adriana Meiss]

Deborah,
You are the cloud lady!
I like the contrasting colors in the first one.
I find the cloud in the second one kind of overpowering and scary, but again, I'm not familiar with the skies of the South West... Dania's idea of slanting the rain seems a good one to me.

Isn't La Carte great for clouds?

[qpdoll]

When I first saw it my thought was the bottom one reminds me of an atom bomb cloud, but since it's so dramatic, it should make a great larger painting. .... Both are well done.

[Scottyarthur]

Deborah I like the first one it has nice color, but some how doesn't seem quite finished.
The 2nd one I just love I can feel the intensity of it. I love these big storms had lots of fun when i lived in Florida sitting on the beach watching them roll in and out. I also used to sit on my front porch during very intence storms and watch the lighting strike a power pole about 50 ft. away some times several time during the storm. My wife got mad at me once here in Denver because I wouldn't come in during a tornado I just loved it, it was soooo intence. Anyway back to the painting, I feel maybe some deeper colors, like deeper violets and maybe some of that gray green in the lower area of the cloud, You know when a storm is really threating. :) and maybe a flash of lighting :). mho, I really like them both just as there are, but the second one I like the best. You are one talented artist.

[jkook]

Deborah, I like them both but the second one knocks my socks off. :)
Love your work.
Jim

[Deborah Secor]

Thanks, gang...I'll look very carefully at your suggestions and thoughts. :wink2:

Just to clarify, these were each done in about 20 minutes and are merely quick sketches, not finished in any way. I use these to see about the overall shapes, value and a little bit about color!

Deborah

[IMaybe]

The first one is lovely, and has a future as a larger painting--for a peaceful comtiplative day. And of course the second one for a more dramtic feeling---maybe with a little more thought to the forground area to help it along. The skies are both really well done, and tell there own stories well. Inspireing to me! :wink2:

[Paula Ford]

Beautiful! I especially love the drama of the 2nd one.

Paula

[meowmeow]

I like them both as well....but I also see the mushroom cloud there in the second. However, the color and light in the second is nice...and the cloud itself is terrific.
The first is a bit more serene, perhaps...but very nice. Not so serene as to be boring though.

Sandy

[Kathryn Wilson]

mmmm .... as someone said, different strokes, for different folks

I like the first one a lot ... the cloud balances out the dark of the land on the left ... it just lacks the ooompf of the second one.

I'm thinking the second one is best for a larger painting, but maybe thinking a different format? the bottom part of the cloud ... the rain is too opaque and looks like a pedestal, rather than the transluscence of sheer rain.

Can't wait to see what you decide

[Dot Hoffman]

I like both of them....you are SO good!!! I like the second one more, because it is so dramatic. I can smell the rain :)

[Susan Jenkins]

Oh yea.... i'm definitely a cloud / storm fanatic. I love the gorgeous colors you've used. You represent God's gorgeous world with such artistic beauty.

LOVE THESE!!
:) susan

[Deborah Secor]

You all are great for the ego. Thanks! I have some ideas for these two and will play around more, but I'm leaving next Monday to go on a 3 week vacation and won't have much time to noodle with these until I get back.

After thinking things through and hearing all the comments I think the first one needs more sky detail in one spot to lead the eye through the comp, and I would enhance the foreground light and shadow more.

In the other one, I think it needs more context of sky, other clouds, something to show it's relevance, rather than filling the page so much. I'm thinking it's sunset and there might be some darker, bluer clouds behind it. It also needs more explanation of where it is with more land below and in front of it, I think, and the skirt of falling rain has to be more transparent, of course.

Wish I had more time now, but this thread (and its companion in Landscapes) will be good refreshers for me! Thanks...

Deborah