abstract landscape, a dreaming forest, a gold tree

[Ramie Leigh]

Howdy!

This is a commission; a painting that got delayed, and delayed, and delayed - technically a trade, so I kept having to put it off in favor of paid work (and to be fair to my client / trade partner, she was in the same boat with my half of the trade as well!). Ultimately, I think I'm glad; when I finally did get to it it was having experimented with some techniques that, I think, ended up being just perfect for it.

Basically I'm thrilled with how it came out - it all but painted itself! - so I figure this is an excellent moment to make sure it doesn't need to be kicked somewhere to make it better. I don't want to be the barn-blind artist! Also I'm thinking of entering it in a competition, so heeyyyy...

Anyway, feel free to crit or comment on anything at all. This is of course acrylic, very fluid technique (I love Liquitex inks!) on Fredrix watercolor canvas. Big boy, 24" x 60". Thanks for looking!

[ribeyedsmile]

well, worry not.

This is a very good painting in my estimation. I also am an avid user of the liquitex inks. I really enjoy your freedom with it. The horizon line and the green tree trunk seem the only containment. This work breaths freely.

The whites have a nice feel in shaping a flat field. It seems to push and lift the orange on the right yet be on top of the blues in the left.

I like the blues being a foreground element on the left and a mid ground or background on the center and right.

The warm tones follow the same double task as the blue.

The purple (dioxine) really sits back calmly giving to an odd evening or nite context to the surreal brightness of the piece.

The horizontal composition with your meandering horizon line control this surreal colorscape without effort. It is both pleasing and exciting. It seems spiritual in its source.

Congradulations

I would have an agreed dollar value even though it was done as barter....So your patron can quote a price if asked what they paid.

Michael

[Ramie Leigh]

Thank you very much for the thoughtful compositional analysis, Michael! A big part of why I'm so pleased with this one is that it's the first piece wherein I haven't had to anchor the composition with huge swathes of neutral color, or pull a 'monochrome' cheat by using one dominant jewel-tone and only very shy amounts of other colors. (As in, I've been complimented on 'fearless' color use, and I'm not one to rudely scoff off a compliment, but I still know in my own head that it's a 'greyscale' painting, just with teal and rust instead of black and white.)

I'm also glad to hear your thoughts on how to do the dollar value of a trade; what you describe is how we worked it out and it's good to hear that's how another artist would approach it. I gave her a price on the painting, she came back with a combination of trade of her artwork and cash. I certainly wouldn't hesitate to tell someone what I 'paid' for her artistry as well!

[ribeyedsmile]

photographic realism is ultimately controled with line(edge) and value. Fauve artists went to bizarre hues while they told the viewer the storry in controlled values.

[OkeeKat]

Fabulous effects you achieved, I love the bold colors too!!
congrats, that is one large canvas!

[Charlie's Mum]

I enjoyed reading Michael's thoughtful crit - so have nothing to add really!
Except that I find this painting very exciting in the use of colour and the ink/fluid techniques.
I love acrylic inks but usually use paper as a base - (different styles and subject matter!)

I'd happily live with this painting

[Wassie]

I enjoyed Michael's critique. He said things I wouldn't know how to express. I know it's supposed to be a forest but the trees on the far right look like a city scape to me. I see there are trunks and limbs but the trees look like they are shaped like buildings to me.

[FarisBermamet]

A bottle of scotch, a fireplace, and this painting on the wall on a winter night. Now that would be an evening. Amazing work.

[Ramie Leigh]

Many, many thanks, everyone! It only took me.. I'm not even sure.. 25 tries and two years to get it right? Something like that! I'm a slow painter anyway, and the dry time of the fluid technique doesn't help. Maybe if I lived in Arizona. Thanks again!

[Lady Carol]

This is very appealing. I would love to have this on my wall.

[chammi kaiser]

Good analysis by Michael. I agree with all his points. Now to the emotive side of things! I just love this painting. Like Carol, I too would enjoy it on my wall. Good luck with the competition. Let us know how it goes.

[RPut]

I too think it is fabulous! I love the exciting colors!

[Mz_Sketch_Pad]

i really like the color and the composition. i keep looking at it- it keeps my interest

[Rose4U]

Love the use of colors. Great Job

[Israel1234]

wow this is pretty amazing i love all the colors! It reminds me of a camera negative but i color! Great job!