Johannes - Student Critique Posts Only

[Johannes Instructor]

Originally Posted by Barbara01

Hi Johannes, I've been watching your webinars since they started and never posted a painting for you to critique. I think that I just don't get rocks and waterfalls much at all. My confusion is probably a result of missing the first day of the waterfall class due to surgery and I don't seem to have any notes from previous classes either, so I tried to make due with the info that I had.

I chose a picture that I found online of a Waterfall in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland and thought that the earlier unfinished version was better and wish I could go back and reclaim some of that freshness. Also, the shape of the waterfall itself seems a little too geometric in nature, and that sky just didn't translate well at all. What do you think of the rock-face? I usually try to avoid painting them, not something that I realized until the class on rocks.

This is soft pastel on 18x12" Wallis paper.

Here's the final result, please help and tell me where I went wrong, thanks:

A painting can be too cool or too warm. In this case it is too warm so it can use some cooler colors. Also how about a few darker areas for contrast.

[Johannes Instructor]

Originally Posted by LadyMadonna

I did this little pastel yesterday with a watercolour underpainting. I feel the composition is off and that I went into overkill as well. I am afraid of losing my pastel techniques while I am learning oils.
Ps Can you critique the barn I did 2 weeks ago? Thank you and Happy Easter !

I tend to avoid things growing out of the bottom frame. If you put a little platform before the bush it will look better. See example below.

[LadyMadonna]

Agreed. That is what was wrong with it ..the same premise as the waterfalls needing a level at the bottom frame. Got it.

[LadyMadonna]

I reworked the field of flowers today. Hopefully I managed to get rid of that triangle between the tree and the mountain. I tried to make more wildflower planes to the background and sneak in a visual pathway to the back of the painting by using colour. Not sure if it worked or not.
Thank you once again for all of your guidance. Means a lot.

[Johannes Instructor]

Originally Posted by LadyMadonna

I reworked the field of flowers today. Hopefully I managed to get rid of that triangle between the tree and the mountain. I tried to make more wildflower planes to the background and sneak in a visual pathway to the back of the painting by using colour. Not sure if it worked or not.
Thank you once again for all of your guidance. Means a lot.

Now we are talking! I feel the eye flow now. Very nice foreground.

[LadyMadonna]

Whoopee !!!! Thanks to you my teacher and friend !

[Barbara01]

Thank you very much Johannes, I'll keep the warm/cool thing in mind for my next few paintings. I have another large pastel painting that needs help too; I'm pretty rusty after my break from art over the winter. Oh yes a couple darker values would be a good idea, I was trying to figure out how to do that and failed. lol

Hi Donna. I'm happy to see that your still participating; I keep coming back to these threads to see what people have been doing and you're one of those people I look forward to the most. Nice work Donna.

[Lowe]

Tried to paint along with your open lesson today.

Of course I very quickly realised that I could not follow oils with watercolour. However, I am enjoying your painting.

Here is my little 20 minute pic. The left hand side is my first try at negative painting.The right hand side was difficult because I could not overpaint. It's kind of unfinished but I am stopping.

thanks you for sharing with us.

Lynda

[piggiepie]

I watched your class today but I only use pastels since I'm now painting in the living room. Not an easy medium.. I love your classes. Thanks so much!

[Wetpaint0938]

Hi Stu Gourlay wanted me to post my painting for your advice . Think it would fall under the water category. Loved the live class yesterday but was not able to stay with it ...

[Wetpaint0938]

Hi again this was after the rocks class and need you advice. This is of the Smith rocks here in Central Oregon a Rock Climbers area . they change color all day so I tried to capture the reds and yellows as best I could . THANKS

[Wetpaint0938]

HI I sent you the one before doing the sky a bit greener hereis the revised one Also added more fog as the Washington coast always has it Stu insisted you see it

[pat-trew]

Johannes, The Giraffe painting was requested by my step daughter, with colors to go with her rec room. I would appreciate your citique on this, I have been trying to apply your teachings from the paintings from photo class and all the classes since. (which I thank you for, the classes are great) The Giraffes are not finished, but I feel the need for help in the landscape part. I did not use photos for the landscape, I am doing it from lessons, and what I think it should look like If ;you get a chance to critique this, Thank you. Pat Trewern

[Johannes Instructor]

Originally Posted by Wetpaint0938

Hi again this was after the rocks class and need you advice. This is of the Smith rocks here in Central Oregon a Rock Climbers area . they change color all day so I tried to capture the reds and yellows as best I could . THANKS

I would simplify those trees and make the mountain crevices into larger ones. Think of melting forms together.

[Johannes Instructor]

Originally Posted by Wetpaint0938

HI I sent you the one before doing the sky a bit greener hereis the revised one Also added more fog as the Washington coast always has it Stu insisted you see it

Nice suggested background. I would not have the poles lean parallel.