Deluge

[DraigAthar]

MY IMAGE(S):
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Critiques/upload_spool/09-04-2002/8060_Deluge.jpg


GENERAL INFORMATION:
Title: Deluge
Year Created: 2002
Medium: Oil
Surface: Canvas
Dimension: 16x20
Allow digital alterations?: Yes!

MY COMMENTS:
It's been a while since I posted anything here in the structured critiques forum, and I'd forgotten how much useful information I usually get here, so I'm posting a painting I finished a couple of months ago (some of you may have seen it as I posted it in the oil forum back then) for your consideration.

MY QUESTIONS FOR THE GROUP:
I'll take comments on any aspect of this painting, thanks!

[madster]

It's very well done technically, but the main focus of the painting seems to be missing. The eye roams around the work, but there is really no place for it to rest and contemplate. The focus is uneven, especially the golden swirly in the upper left corner.

Since it suggests a rainy background, maybe the addition of puddles of collected water near the gutters...

Good Luck!
Madster

[impressionist2]

Amy, I, too, saw a rainy night because of the street reflections. However, on such a night, all your street lights would be diffused, creating soft edges, which are missing, but necessary. ( see below)


Your painting is wonderful. I do think that because of the busyness of the scene, a more limited palette would work better. Emphasis on one unifying color.

Renee

[cobalt fingers]

I agree with what's been said and I like what renee did. As a thought (a deep arty thought) ask what you might add to the photo as an artists. How can you unify or make the image more profound?

It's really pretty impressive for scale of effort. If you were to play with some edges and get expressive I'd like it better.

[mswaine]

Very well composed painting, particularly the way your eye is pulled into the distance, and you've nailed the wet look. But, to make this work look wetter and give it a more dramatic look it needs to be darker. Now I know I'm basiically saying to rework the contrast over the whole painting (a big job, but as you can see from the example below it might be a direction worth exploring.


http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/28-Sep-2002/8060_Deluge2.jpg