Fundy Tide WIP

[hayday77]

This is a 24 x 36 acrylic on canvas. I am frustrated with this as I find it uninspiring. I want to generate some sort of emotional response in the viewer but cannot focus on a mood in order to direct any changes.

I was attracted to the wet sand and perhaps should have done a smaller painting limited to that area.

Perhaps I should post this in the critique area but wanted to share it here.

Feedback welcome

[hayday77]

Has anyone had experience with glazing on acrylics? I thought I may do a warm glaze over the entire painting - yellow ochre with bit of burnt sienna or indian red.

[Flycatcher10]

Hi Dale: I haven't any experience w/that medium, but from the colors you are speaking about they may add that little bit of spark you're looking for.

I agree w/your assessment that it needs something - for me it's the coloring of the rocks and wet sand. That's why I think your glaze could be the key. Everything else reads good.

[hayday77]

Thank you Mary.
I am about to bite the bullet and try this. Keeping my fingers crossed. (I will try one section first)

I know I have to add some interesting shapes to the dock, but those are details. I don't even want to go there until I have the overall look I need.

[randalljazz]

good luck with the experiment. it actually looks quite good to me as it is, except that i don't see the wonderful glow of the right side sky mirrored in the water, as it ought be, both distant and especially up close. $.02

[hayday77]

Good point. That would help. And I am going to try to intensify that light to a yellow glow and reflect it better.

I did put that glaze on (did not help the sky) but it warmed up the sand and looks much more inviting. Will repost the photo after I tackle the sky

[climber-man]

In my experience, the biggest problem a painting can have is related to composition / shapes. The foreground doesn't give a strong indication for which area of the painting is important, so highlighting or darkening specific areas would help it. Sometimes you need a larger brush to weed out the details.

[nzuriel]

Beautiful! I love it

[VickiB]

Hi Hayday, Brian has some good points here. Keep going and enjoy the experience on the way.

[Shamrock15]

Couple thoughts as someone who used to live down the Valley. As was mentioned, there is not a lot of detail in the foreground, so the pier and the shacks pull you out from the foreground. If you want the mud and water to be the focus, you need some strong shapes there. The eye is drawn to the structures, so even though there isn't a lot of detail in the shacks and the pier, your eye goes to them. Around Windsor and Grand Pre, you can see how the tide carves the mud with really strong shapes and gives you amazing contrasts with the water and the mud. That sort of shaping would work really well here. It the structures are your key, they need to take a more imposing role in the piece.

[hayday77]

D'Arcy - thanks so much for your timely advice. I was about to change the pier as if I was viewing the larger dock and boats. I like the idea of "carving" the shapes in the mud. Now to plan "C". Wish me luck.

[FromtheDeep]

I can't wait to see the progression of this painting. Sand carved by waves and tide is just so beautiful. I'm not sure hwo the gazes will work but that would be an interesting experiment for sure.

[hayday77]

So this is the latest version - AFTER gessoing most of the canvas. The sky is totally redone. The land was too warm and needed to reflect more skylight.

[Shamrock15]

Looking good!

[hayday77]

Still working on this and giving myself the end of the day to finish this.

I need to work on the foreground rocks, the boat and maybe the buildings. I am not sure what to do with the buildings to fit them into the landscape as they are not the focus.

Would love your comments while I can still change things.

Thanks'Dale