Jumping Dolphins ~ Base line HeLp!

[tess2000]

Greeting Folks!

This is one of the commisioned pieces I got from the dolphin reflections study. It is a 36" X 40" Oil on Stretched Canvas. The only requirements for this was to be in pastel colors, this size, and two dolphins with a tropical look and feel overall.

So... Considering all that; the only question I have so far is where to put the exit lines from the dolphins coming out of the water. I really wanted some height in this one as it will go in a vaulted ceiling, formal dining room. On the image I have marked where I'm thinking of putting them but just need some comments on any suggestions to get the look I'm trying to accomplish on the height.

The dolphin on the viewers left can be moved easily still. The one on the right is the one that is really in question.

I sure would appreciate any help on this I can get.

Thanks in Advance,
Tess2000

P.S. How ya'll like my new tiny head? It's my pet turtle Franklin. He's very cool. I think we look alike

P.S.S. Oh... OK so far?

[This message has been edited by tess2000 (edited May 14, 2001).]

[Fairgrove]

Wonderful to see more dolphins from you, Tess!

I would go for the lower line for the right dolphin. I think it feels closer than the left one, and then it would be natural that it came from a closer point in the water.

Ok, maybe it's a bit early, but let me come with some opinions right away. I would like to see some more light/highlight on the right dolphin and I would like to see a little bit more of the island in the background.

Looking forward to your progress postings!

/J.H. Fairgrove

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If you are interested in getting your work criticized by Fairgrove, just email me .
I offer hard but constructive criticism and not only praise to boost your self-confidence.
Your work will also be graded on the Fairgrove Scale from one to ten trees, where ten trees are best.
- - - -
J.H. Fairgrove

[JeanineJ]

Agreeing with Fairgrove about exit... I would like to see more light through the water trailing up... Congratulations on commission! Hope to see you have as much fun with this one as in the earlier dolphin piece...

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Jeanine Jackson
Stamford, CT
www.peoplescapesct.com

[dteleis]

also agree with the lower exit line on the right dolphin, and maybe curl the tail on that one downwards just a bit......

beautiful! makes me wish i were swimming with them!!



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dt

[DonW]

Great work here. Your dolphins are fantastic.
The form and shape of these two would make me think you have some in a swimming pool in your backyard posing for you! Ive seem tons of these guys around Port Aransas and they are always fun to watch in the wild.

As far as the exit points in the water, here is the problem I have. The water that you have in the foreground at the bottom looks too much like water breaking up on a beach to me.

I guess what Im trying to say is, that with the height that these dolphins have, to me it appears that they are about to beach themselves at a landing point yet to be determined (by them of course) somewhere in front of them.

It would seem that to achieve this height, the water below the dolphins would be pretty deep. Also, since you have a hint of a land mass in the background it would almost seem that this would be some sort of cove, or bay resulting in pretty smooth water.

(drum roll) SO to sum all of this up I think the foamy water should be reworked to just being mild water/wave movement that is basically the same as the water just past the foamy part.

Also some extra sun reflecting off of the top of the right one would really set them into the whole painting better so they wouldnt seem as if they were cut and pasted in.

Excellent work on these and Im fasinated with how well you do the flesh tones with these animals.

[tess2000]

Originally posted by Fairgrove:
Wonderful to see more dolphins from you, Tess!

I would go for the lower line for the right dolphin. I think it feels closer than the left one, and then it would be natural that it came from a closer point in the water.

Ok, maybe it's a bit early, but let me come with some opinions right away. I would like to see some more light/highlight on the right dolphin and I would like to see a little bit more of the island in the background.

Looking forward to your progress postings!

/J.H. Fairgrove

Greets Fairgrove!

These guys are really easy to paint. You should give it a shot. And its fun too!

It makes sense on the lower as to it being closer so I think I'll go with that. I still have a lot more to do but have to let the paint dry before going over it in some spots. The right dolphin is finished and I won't mess with that one but only to sharpen the lower edges.

The right dolphin is in its very rough stages with only suggestions (or markers for me) of where the lights will be to define those strong tail and body muscles.

As for the water I still have some details to work in for movement and so on but this is only the first three layers and most of that water is still pretty wet since I used thinner paint in a glaze type form.

Until I get the baseline or exit lines I couldn't get a feel for motion direction for the bottom part. Then I'll add in the ripple things and foam etc to bring it all together.

As for the Island in the back thats still iffy. I may drag it out with a hint white beach and a bit of greenery. Just haven't really decided on that. I sure don't want to take away from the subject but I do want to move the viewer gracefully to the right.

OH well.. blah blah blah. I will keep you posted on the final version.

Thanks!
Tess

[ZOTMA]

I see what Don's talking about with the wave action. What it looks like to me is the boat wake. Maybe a little less action there or more depth with color so that we're sure that's deep under the white caps/froth. Those dolphins are perfect!

[ZOTMA]

We were posting at the same time I think! Great info. I forgot, I think the lower exit too.

[tess2000]

Originally posted by DonW:

bottom looks too much like water breaking up on a beach to me.
(drum roll) SO to sum all of this up I think the foamy water should be reworked to just being mild water/wave movement that is basically the same as the water just past the foamy part.

Also some extra sun reflecting off of the top of the right one would really set them into the whole painting better so they wouldnt seem as if they were cut and pasted in.

Excellent work on these and Im fasinated with how well you do the flesh tones with these animals.

Dear DonW

Thank you for your comments. I agree with you as for the white water stuff. I was wanting to get that look of deep clear water. But the only way I know how to do it is virtually backwards from most artist I think. Since I use such thin paint in a glaze form when it dries it gives a differant sort of mottled depth thing going on when covering over the white.



Here is a reworked edit of these changes and I also decided there was just to much water coming off the left one so I'm doing that over. I don't have the right one's highlight and glistening effects on yet but I'll do all that when I work with the falling water in the whites. I was just piddling until I could get some help of WC.

I also don't like that "duck" bill on the left so I'll modify that just a bit as well. I am going to go with dropping the exit lines down a bit more (as suggested) and I have layed in a beach in the background and all that will probably be all the changes I'll make in that area.

I've never seen these happy guys in the wild so I'm just going on referance images and even those are pretty hard to find.

Anyways...its a great help to chat with someone who actually has seen this sort of thing as it makes more sense when explained about the landscape and also the behavior of these dolphins.

Thanks Again!
Tess