M & M's

[mcassatt]

MY IMAGE(S):





GENERAL INFORMATION:
Title: M & M's
Year Created:
Medium: Oil
Surface: Canvas
Dimension: 16x20
Allow digital alterations?: Yes!

MY COMMENTS:
Structured Crit. please-
This has been a complicated piece for me. I worked on the composition for a long time (using tech. elements) before I settled on this one.

MY QUESTIONS FOR THE GROUP:
I would like imput on any artistic elements you notice. I've att. the value picture too. Thanks.

[La_]

likes: the impasto, the checkered tablecloth, the cheery of the colorful mnm's

confusions: the textured area behind the bag of mnm's, the red cloth corner rising under the beater

la

[mcassatt]

Hi La,
I agree w/you and have made changes. Thanks for viewing and c&c.

[SundayPainter331]

I like the painterly style and the subject matter.

There is no clear focal point. The painting is too busy. The mixer looks wonky.

I'd like to see the spilled M&M's as the focal point, with possibly the removal of the bag of sugar to keep the focus on the star of the show. The mixer (after it is corrected) then effectively leads the eye to the focus.

[mcassatt]

Thanks Sundaypainter for your comments. I have made some changes since then and I like the results. The beater did need work which was one of the things I worked on.

[sharkbarf]

mcassett
post more pictures now that you've made changes. It's hard to know what needs attention if we can't see it.

Is it more current in the oil painting channel?

[mcassatt]

[AllisonR]

Ok, you are going to be really mad. But I really liked it much better before. It seemed more freely painted then. Now it seems overworked according to what everyone else thinks you should do. The only thing left that has the original fresh and enjoyable feel is the shadows on the beater. (though I see you have actually changed them so the beater angle looks better. This part still seems fresh to me.) In trying to make the m&ms a specific focal point, you lost the wonderful, subtle color changes in the plaid and the lighter red and white striped cloth. I could have looked at that foreground plaid forever.

[mcassatt]

Thanks, Allison, for your comments. I'm not at all mad, I'm glad you stepped up and wrote your thoughts. So many, as you probably know, for whatever reason don't and then you're left wondering.
I listen carefully to all comments, assess my work, and make adjustments to what I think. I'm never afraid to make adjustments and alot of times I do, then, regret it. But, I guess it's part of learning.