Pick No Grape Before Its Time

**painterbear** · #1 07-11-2012, 11:06 AM

I saw this photo in the RIL and fell in love with it. By the time I finished painting all the grapes, however, I wasn't feeling so happy.

This is the full size painting:

In real life, the colors are a bit softer.

I'm playing with the idea of cropping it into a rectangle...what do you think? Square or rectangle?

Ref: Photo by etoiledusoir in the RIL. Thanks for posting it.
Size: 10.5"a x 10.5"
Paper: 140 lb Arches cp
Paints: all artist grade, different manufacturers

Comments and critiques invited.

I'm not really happy with the way this turned out. May leave it in my references to try again.

Sylvia

tommyjav · #2 07-11-2012, 11:31 AM

I suggest the portrait crop! Nice colors, Sylvia!
Tommy

**Yorky** · #3 07-11-2012, 12:42 PM

I think it would be better with distinct shadows Sylvia, it looks a little flat. An easy fix.

Doug

juneto · #4 07-11-2012, 01:29 PM

Like it as is .
How about a drop of white ,where the light comes in ,for sparkle .
June

**Antiqueteacher** · #5 07-11-2012, 01:35 PM

Sylvia, we can certainly paint better sometimes in our heads than with our hands!

I really would like to pick one or two of those fat grapes! I think that more darks will pop the grapes and the leaves. This is a super painting! Tweek before you decide on a crop!

Katherine

FLNH · #6 07-11-2012, 01:55 PM

I seem to like it better than you do, but is this not always the case with our paintings? A few darks would help. I prefer the uncropped but it is a really close call. It is a happy, colorful painting.

BJ3 · #7 07-11-2012, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLNH

I seem to like it better than you do, but is this not always the case with our paintings? A few darks would help. I prefer the uncropped but it is a really close call. It is a happy, colorful painting.

I agree with Karl . . . .and think congratulations are in order!

Bev

Happygang · #8 07-11-2012, 02:47 PM

My vote is for the square crop. A suggestion? Perhaps lift out the characteristic highlights on many of the grapes. This would help the flatness Yorky sees in this, and make a more dramatic contrast. Sometimes we're too hard on ourselves, and if we fail to achieve exactly what we imagined we think we have failed. This is a nice study.

brushwaggler · #9 07-11-2012, 02:47 PM

Hi painterbear. For me, it's the edges. You've given the same degree of finish to the back grapes as the ones in the foreground. If these were a little softer edged, they would slide into the background without disappearing. That would make the sharper edged foreground ones come forward. In addition to this, if you remove some of the colour from the back ones, this also would help create the illusion. Lastly, should you lift some soft highlights on the foreground ones using clean water and a tissue, this would help with the illusion of the grapes being round. A light rub with a dry brush and some gouache can give the appearance of that dusty coating that sometimes covers dark red fruit like grapes and plums. Sorry, didn't mean to go off on a tangent!
Regards
Brushwaggler

ona · #10 07-11-2012, 03:39 PM

Turn it to a Black and white image and You will see the problem. you are painting it with colour rather than with value and the colour is actually secondary to the value changes. If you focus instead on the values this will bring the painting to life.

Ona

Etoiledusoir · #11 07-11-2012, 03:45 PM

I'm very happy to see your interpretation of one of my photos. I find your grapes very nice , your colors are gorgeous. However, I can't give you some advice, because watercolor and I made it two... but I'm OK with others opinions to add more dark. I really like the first!

hoylander · #12 07-11-2012, 05:06 PM

I simply love this painting! in its square form too! I like it because its a happy painting and it made me smile! I'd be more than happy to have this on my wall! Maybe it could be a little more realistic but I love the colours and the whole effect just as it is!!

Lulu · #13 07-11-2012, 05:32 PM

Beautifully painted Sylvia, darks will really enhance it. Turn both your painting and the ref photo to black and white and you will see where the darks are missing. Something I keep needing to remind myself!

**MtLookout** · #14 07-11-2012, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yorky

I think it would be better with distinct shadows Sylvia, it looks a little flat. An easy fix.

Doug

I totally agree with Doug. A little depth with deeper background shapes and shadows would really finish this off and punch those wonderful grape/leaf colors. Easy add. Really great start and compo. I'm not sure it needs a crop. Adding the background values might give you a totally different look for the picture as a whole.

Tom

**painterbear** · #15 07-11-2012, 05:46 PM

Thanks all for looking and giving me such good advice. I'll try turning both the reference and the painting photo into black and white and see where I might go from here. I'll give it a little break first though to recharge my batteries.

Agnes, Thank you for the gorgeous reference photo which caught my eye and made me want to paint it as soon as I saw it.

Thanks again for looking and commenting Tommy, Doug, June, Katherine, Karl, Bev, Happygang, Brushwaggler, Ona, Joan, Lulu, and Tom. You are all great!

Sylvia

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