Hibiscus Bush

[Fagan]

MY IMAGE(S):
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Critiques/upload_spool/09-04-2002/2383_hibiscus_bush.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Critiques/upload_spool/09-04-2002/2383_hibiscus_bush_close.jpg


GENERAL INFORMATION:
Title: Hibiscus Bush
Year Created: 2002
Medium: Oil
Surface: Canvas
Dimension: 12in by 16in
Allow digital alterations?: Yes!

MY COMMENTS:
First oil after almost 2 year hiatus.

MY QUESTIONS FOR THE GROUP:
Does this painting have too much of a "Christmas" look? Are the colors too bright? How do you tone down a painting yet keep the freshness?? Thanks for any suggestions or help. Composition wise..is it ok or not?

[henrik]

A lovely a painterly painting!
You have already touched upon what I think could be improved -- the red/green contrast (you described it as Christmas look). I did not think it looked like Christmas, but I think the red/pink in the flowers is too isolated; that color needs to be echoed elesewhere to unite.
Atached is an edited version where I just warmed everything (red "glaze" - the same hue as the flowers).

[Fagan]

Henrik....thank you! The picture is not showing up though. *SMILE*

oops! there it is! I see what you mean. IF I did not want to do a warm wash what else could I do?

[henrik]

I should have responded to your other questions as well. Does the composition work? I think so, a possible improvement could be to crop a little at the bottom to make the bush less centered on the middle of the painting. As a consequence of bottom crop, a little of the left side needs to be trimmed to keep the format. (Edited version attached).

Then your question on how to tone it down while keeping the freshness... Well I think a red glaze worked into the strokes will not only unite colors, but also tone down the saturation of the green.

[henrik]

Fagan, I did not read your response to my first post. Will think of something else... (hold on)....

[henrik]

Well, instead of warming the background, you could cool/gray down the flowers. Attached in a version with flowers toned down; I sprayed green over them. Also, the white in the bush is kind of chalky, and needs a hint of color (green/gray).

[henrik]

ooops, did those edits on the version where I had already warmed the background... but I think the idea comes across anyway.

[Fagan]

henrik..you are a genius! I think you are on the right track here. Thanks for the suggestions.