This is subtle, direct work that feels like it could be done plein air. I like the use of low value contrast in the distant tree line to accentuate the foreground. Gary

Trees are looking very majestic. Nice work on the roots, you can almost feel them gripping the ground. The touch of orange brightens it up nicely.
Arnie

Hi Heather,

Nice intimate scene. This reminds me of areas along the Suwannee River in Florida. I love old cypress trees and their sloping roots and the “knees” that come up off the roots close to the ground.

This looks to be a bit of an overcast day and you’ve captured that well. With a scene like this it’s important to get the feel and at the same time make sure you have separation from items in the foreground and items closely behind it. I like how you grouped these trees, but I think the “star” of your painting is the tree closest to the viewer. Therefore I think a little separation between the first and second tree is needed. When I say “separation” I’m not meaning you need to move anything, rather it needs some adjustments in color temperature and value.

I think some warmer tones and some slightly darker shadows on the first tree will make it come forward a little more and add a little more dimension to the painting. also a little darker shadow on the second tree as it goes behind the first tree will also help. You could make the shadows on the first tree a touch warmer as well and that will help keep it in front of the other tree. None of this would need to be drastic, very small increments is all that’s needed. You already did it a little bit as the the root of the first tree that runs in front of the second is just a touch warmer and that makes it stay in front of the second tree even though the value is almost the same. Just a little more of that!

Good work!

Randy

Hi Heather,

I think what you did gives the roots on the first tree more form. I think it reads better, but it’s more important to me if you feel it made an improvement.

Regards,

Randy

I’ve been seeing a lot of misty, overcast paintings here lately, must be the weather lol. This is very well done, great background composed with those light colors, setting the stage for this composition. I like how you got the contrast in that one specific spot in the first tree in its roots, and how that leads the eye towards that area. Great color diversity, giving life to this foggy, overcast scene.