need opinions on this background...

[degreene72]

i can't be objective about this background anymore. any suggestions, comments? it's still on the easel. thanks, already! oil, 18x24 on canvas


okay...i'm reposting a hopefully better picture....
okay...new version...what i did is darken the white in the trees (sky) warm up the lightest value in the face, move 1 of the flowers and darken their value and also cool it. i'd have tried to do this differently, bur daddy wanted his beloved mandevilla vine in there. i didn't do the crop, henrik, but i actually moved the flower before i saw your post, so we agree there! thanks all for your input and let me know what you think now...it's still wet!

and again...lighted up milt's hedge



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[This message has been edited by degreene72 (edited January 17, 2001).]

Looks fine to me!


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Cap

[roxanne_mc]

have you thought about some blues and other shades over that white in the backgroud??
It's a little bright...might be what you need.. I really like it nice balance..just the bright white distracts my eye
rox

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[arlene]

the only thing bothering me are the hot pink flowers...they're a bit too strong...tone them down a bit, and i think it's fine
nice work.

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[lori]

this is a nice painting. however, i think that the background is a problem because the flowers and the person are on the same spatial plane. you have created a double focus point by giving the flowers too much detail. think of a camera...it can only focus on one spatial plane everything else in the front and back of it are fuzzy/blurry.
use a camera and look through the lense to get a sense of what i'm talking about.

i believe all the problems with the background arise from this. the colors, and placement of the flowers doesn't bother me at all.

also, his shirt needs highlights to balance out the background.

anyway...almost there...

[teac]

I agree with Lori. I'd blur the flowers. I like it, very happy painting. Michelle

[arteitaliana]

I agree with Arlene and Lori. The pink flowers steal the show....they should be pushed back with a duller tone.

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http://www.geocities.com:80/SoHo/Exh...799/index.html

[kemshmi]

Hi Degreen
i did a quick photoshop edit..i blurred the background to push the flowers back a bit and blurred all leafy plant lines in general..and pulled some of your darker background color right up to the line of the face ..
i also added some lights in the shirt (not too sucessfully with computer paint) but should give you some ideas..
looks good


Kemshmi

[henrik]

Here is my version. In addition to making the same edits as kemshmi I also moved the flower that was closest to his face - I thought it looked a bit too close thereby stealing focus away from the face.
I tried a cropped version to see if it made a difference on the composition.


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[degreene72]

okay, i changed some stuff....see pic at top....diane

[arteitaliana]

So much better!! I like the light in the background...I think everything work now.

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[bruin70]

the whole hedge at the bottom is too dark....{M}

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"it's alright to be judgmental,,,,,,,,if you have taste"...MILT

[degreene72]

miiiillllttttt....(whines) ....back to the easel. i think you are right.

[beauxman]

Looks like a very nice gentleman enjoying a beautiful day. This is wonderful.

[Impulse]

Originally posted by bruin70:
the whole hedge at the bottom is too dark....{M}

I agree. But I think it is (will be) a great one.

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If the individual is ever to come under the power of the ideal to the extent of believing that his concrete longings and needs are to be found in it -- found moreover in a state of fulfillment and gratification, then the ideal must give the illusion of granting present satisfaction. It is this illusory reality that neither philosophy nor religion can attain. Only art achieves it - in the medium of beauty.... Herbert Marcuse, Negations