The Old Pet Shop

[Keith2]

I did this a couple of hours, alkyd on a canvas board 10 by 12 inches. The shadow cast by the little wall on the left isn't dark enough, and the bags of pet food in front of the shop door aren't that convincing, otherwise it's a fairly accurate representation.

[treeshark]

Lots of nice things about this, the drawing is good and the shop front well expressed. The White windows are a little too dominant and I would suggest doing the brickwork in a more brushstroky way like you have done the roof. It cries out for a shopper!
Rob

[Keith2]

Originally Posted by treeshark

Lots of nice things about this, the drawing is good and the shop front well expressed. The White windows are a little too dominant and I would suggest doing the brickwork in a more brushstroky way like you have done the roof. It cries out for a shopper!
Rob

Thank you for your comments, which are useful and I'll incorporate them in future paintings.

You're right about the missing shopper. I left it out because I tend to spoil the painting when I add figures at a late stage in the process.

[LarrySeiler]

I think the shadows are fine...feels to me the chroma of those flat surfaces stuck by light could have been pushed a bit more that and/or values a tad lighter...but regardless...a nice effort here...

[Keith2]

You're right, the old bricks have a slight sheen and were probably lighter in tone and were nearer to red than to orange-red. Thank you for the advice.

[WebCat]

I like this just the way it is. The brighter windows draw my eye to them in a pleasing way. It adds a statement to the painting that would be missed if they were toned down. I like the stucco walls and the shadows are fine. The shadow by the low wall appears to have reflected light and is not out of place.

I like it all, except, of course, for the tombstones

[Keith2]

Yes, the bags of pet food are crudely painted and they do look a bit like tombstones !

[Jerry Campbell]

I like this image very much. Solid drawing, beautiful colour, a pleasure to look at.


www.jerrycampbell.blogspot.com

[danju]

Hi, Keith ~ Edward Hopperish, I think, and I like it. Upon zooming, there is more texture evident but, as Rob says, maybe more brushwork would add some life to the walls. Including the vehicle seems a really good choice. Maybe the window trim is just that white but with your license you could tame them a bit. The cast shadow from the ?.....garbage enclosure?....might be darker. Thanks for posting. Dan

[manfrommerriam]

I really like the bit with the car, trees and shop front. But: The dog food is too hard for a viewer to interpret. It is just some colored shapes in front of an unidentified shop. I'd paint the bags out or do something that clarifies what it and the shop are about. A couple of people walking dogs? A sign on the shop, "Old Pets"? Suggest markings and logos on the bags? A nice piece but needing a few tweaks perhaps.
Have fun, Dave

[Keith2]

Thank you for the comments, they are all very encouraging.

[helen_c]

I like this. It doesn't bother me that I don't know exactly what the food bags are - often, at a distance, these things just look like coloured shapes anyway. I really like the simplicity and lack of people, and the intriguing car pootling off round the corner (making a quick getaway with some of those pet food bags?).