Horse - portrait

[Jolanta]

MY IMAGE(S):
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Critiques/upload_spool/09-12-2002/12259_brownhorse2.jpg


GENERAL INFORMATION:
Title: Horse - portrait
Year Created: 2002
Medium: Pastel
Surface: Paper
Dimension: 12
Allow digital alterations?: Yes!

MY COMMENTS:
This is done on colour paper. Sometimes I have a problem with the backgrounds. I know it is as important as a subject but since I don't feel confident about it I go around it. So one way to avoid it I fill the paper with the subject (not much space left for background) or just use colour paper.I think I am afraid if I will do the background my subject will get lost in it.I did trash several pictures because to me they didn't look good with the background.

MY QUESTIONS FOR THE GROUP:
I would like to know if this horse looks "pasted" without background. Please feel free to comment on anything in this picture. I am not oversensitive to the critique - I learn from it!

Jolanta

[puzzlinon]

I don't think the lack of a background is a problem for this piece, but I can see that it would get old to always find yourself wondering what to do about backgrounds.

A couple of thoughts: Why do you treat the background any differently than the subject? You started from some scene or image, I suppose. What made you pick the boundaries of the horse's head as where you'd leave off rendering?

If you always work by painting the 'subject' as an object and then trying to fill in the background, you'll always be in this predicament. Especially since you do such thorough rendering; any loose work you tried to add around the figure at this stage would look completely inappropriate.

Try developing a whole piece at once, especially in the early stages. All those loose light setup lines and massing things you do in the beginning... do them to the whole scene, and then develop the full detail in only the parts that interest you. Experiment a little. It doesn't have to be perfect and accurate; in fact, it's much better if it isn't, because the quirks and irregularities of those sloppy setup lines and adjustments are a great source of warmth and energy.

There's a lot of proficiency in this picture, but not a lot of you. Maybe you can use this background issue to 'loosen up' a bit stylistically. You wouldn't want a fully rendered background at this level of contrast and detail for the whole surface. Something more sketchy will have more of the character of your feeling in it. Doing that honestly, from when you start drawing, and then applying the full monty treatment to the important parts by continuing your process selectively, might start you seeing lots of ways to tackle this.

[m.e.]

Hi,

This will be my first repy so hopefully all goes well.

First of all I like the rendering of the fur. It really works well.

I have my doubts on the anatomy of the head. An advice regarding this would be to frequently check your work through a mirror.

I agree on puzzlions remarks and can only add to the things all ready mentioned.

I'm not a Photoshop expert but I will attach a few edits on your piece hoping this will clarify things.
I myself use drawing tools on the computer to check things out related to the composition and also back/foreground matters. What I've done is taken your horse and pasted on a foresty picture. Not that I'm suggesting that you need to do this, but merely as a way of how it could be done.

The other edit I've made is put something in the foreground. Sometimes this adds to the magic and possibly create a sort of a story.

Again, I'm surely not an expert on these kinds of things, but maybe my suggestions are helpfull to you. I'm learning as well and hopefully will learn untill the end .....

Regards

Martin

[m.e.]

Here is the other one. (first one with a background)

[TKeela]

I think this goes very well with no background. I myself hate doing backgrounds, I need to work on more patience.

The eyes seem very flat and dark in the picture. Try adding some highlights and color, even if none showed in the reference pic.

Also, the nostrils seem very dark, and get sucked into all that shadow at the bottom of the picture. Try lightening them up a bit, and the picture may look more balanced....

I do like the color choices you made, very pleasing.

[laniers]

I like this piece. The head is well rendered. It seems a little flat though. The body doesn't have enough separation. Perhaps blurring the details or darkening the body would help

[cobalt fingers]

Learn about photos first If you're going to use them. This looks like it was shot at 20-35 mm lens which gives the horse a funky look that you can not overcome when you paint or draw. Also think about a light source that will help the form read better.