Iris

[Bellydanser]

MY IMAGE(S):
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Critiques/upload_spool/07-15-2002/7955_iriscolor.jpg


GENERAL INFORMATION:
Title: Iris
Year Created: 2002
Medium: Watercolor
Surface: Paper
Dimension: 14 x 18
Allow digital alterations?: Yes!

MY COMMENTS:
Iris reflected in a glass table top

MY QUESTIONS FOR THE GROUP:
Just looking for general feedback on this one.

[Carol Lois]

I celebrate the creativity you have used here, in using the glass on which to rest the iris--and in turning the flower away from the viewer! Those who say there's nothing new in painting flowers haven't looked at your work. Good show!
Without reading your explanation, I felt lost at interpreting the flower's reflection however. May I suggest that just a line behind the flower hinting at the table-top's far edge might help us read it all more easily. Or if not a line, then a flat area of wash with a straight edge, above the table surface, suggesting a wall behind the table. In a negative way that would help us see the glass top and read the flower and reflection correctly.
Looking forward to seeing drawings and pictures from you in the future.

[Bellydanser]

Thanks, Carol. I had not thought of the line behind the flower, but you are right. That would help the reflection I think. Will make the change soon. :)

[plumpfairy]

:D YUUUUUMMY! Oh so pretty! You do such delicate and beautiful work.
jana:clap: :clap: :clap:

[ronaldb]

Lovely painting!

Dimming the reflection would separate the real flower from the mirrored flower, thereby strengthening your composition and depth.

[drquinn]

Love the delicacy of the flower and agree that you need something to define the tabletop.

You depicted it so wonderfully that I felt slightly sadened that the flower couldn't have been put back and kept living afterwards.

[Bellydanser]

Thanks, ronaldb and drquinn. I don't know if I should give this away or not...but it's a silk flower. (An absolutely brilliantly done one at that, very realistic in color) So no harm done to the wildlife. :)

Ronaldb, I appreciate you comment about the reflection. With the addition of the back edge of the table, and in real color (as the scan is not true to life) it seems to work fairly well. I actually made the reflection lighter than it was in real life. It is also a bit more uniform than the scan shows.

I will try to post a new scan soon, with the table top line. Just have to clean the scanner from under piles of other stuff.

[laniers]

Melinda, this image is simply beautiful. Well balanced compositionally. ronaldb I have to disagree with the reflection suggestion. The reflection representation comes across very well for me. If I'm going to nit pick it would be the 3 solid lines on the bottom of the top petal. The rest of the image is so delicate and flowing that these lines caught my eye. Again a wonderful piece.