A Summer Walk--possible WIP - Page 2

Lauraart · #16 08-12-2012, 09:19 AM

Hi Sue, really admire how you've kept at this one. It's looking good! Everyone has given great advise here - that I'm learning from too! One suggestion I might make based on your comment about wanting the ladies dresses to draw you to the bridge - take some of the purple from the dress and put it both in the shadows and highlights on the bridge - that will tie the two together. It would also tone down the bridge a bit too. Right now, the bridge and the ladies compete for my attention - I am not sure which you want as the center of focus. You could also add touches of that purple in the tree foliage as well.

**Suetois** · #17 08-12-2012, 01:49 PM

Hi, Laura. Thanks for the comments. And thanks for the suggestion to add a little more purple throughout the painting. I'll have to be very careful with that, though. I tend to go overboard. I simply don't see color in shadows yet. The shadows inside the canopy of a tree outdoors simply look a darker shade of green to me--even though experienced artists assure me that shadows have subtle colors, and I can see that they use that in their work, and it makes a very positive difference. The problem is that I have to be able to see it before I can put it in the right place.

I know what you mean about learning from comments on other people's work. I read all the comments because I never know when someone will explain something to someone else that I need to know too.

I'm thinking of adding a fourth figure--a child running toward the bridge between the two ladies and the existing child. I think that would help tie the two areas together--and also give the little girl a reason for waiting at the end of the bridge. Hopefully, the group of people as a whole would become the COI and lead the eye over to the bridge.

My dh also wants me to close the gap between the canopies of the two trees. The sliver of sky splitting the painting into two halves bothers him. I'm still thinking about that. There are other minor corrections I want to make too. For example, the tree on the left has a bulge in the middle of its trunk. It's a quick, easy fix. The minor stuff is all in that category.

Sue

**Suetois** · #18 08-12-2012, 01:59 PM

Hi, Laura. Thanks for the comments. And thanks for the suggestion to add a little more purple throughout the painting. I'll have to be very careful with that, though. I tend to go overboard. I simply don't see color in shadows yet. The shadows inside the canopy of a tree outdoors simply look a darker shade of green to me--even though experienced artists assure me that shadows have subtle colors, and I can see that they use that in their work, and it makes a very positive difference. The problem is that I have to be able to see it before I can put it in the right place.

I know what you mean about learning from comments on other people's work. I read all the comments because I never know when someone will explain something to someone else that I need to know too.

I'm thinking of adding a fourth figure--a child running toward the bridge between the two ladies and the existing child. I think that would help tie the two areas together--and also give the little girl a reason for waiting at the end of the bridge. Hopefully, the group of people as a whole would become the COI and lead the eye over to the bridge.

My dh also wants me to close the gap between the canopies of the two trees. The sliver of sky splitting the painting into two halves bothers him. I'm still thinking about that. There are other minor corrections I want to make too. For example, the tree on the left has a bulge in the middle of its trunk. It's a quick, easy fix. The minor stuff is all in that category.

Sue

**Suetois** · #19 08-12-2012, 04:37 PM

I decided to go ahead and add the little boy and some additional purple and ultramarine blue in a few areas--besides fixing up the minor stuff. I also narrowed the amount of sky between the two trees without closing it completely. I like the difference. I think this is done. Besides, I've found another photo I want to try.

Sue

Crystal1 · #20 08-12-2012, 06:09 PM

This has turned out really nice. You've put a lot of work into it and it shows.

**viking57** · #21 08-12-2012, 06:54 PM

Hi Sue,

There ya go! I like the finish here. Some paintings just won't let you walk away from the easel huh? haha....they're good teachers. It's frustrating at the time but will really help out down the line with later decisions on other paintings. Nice work Sue,
Ron

Lucy12 · #22 08-12-2012, 10:08 PM

This is beautiful Sue! Love how it turned out! Your figures really tell a story and draw you in.

**Suetois** · #23 08-13-2012, 11:31 AM

Thanks, Lucy. :-)

Ron, I'm really trying not to let myself give up before I've resolved or improved whatever I know about. I think pushing like that is necessary at this stage if I want to continue to improve. If not for that, I might have burned this one at least a week ago. LOL. I don't think this painting will ever be a favorite of mine. It's awfully "stiff." But I have learned a lot about foliage on trees and also some things about how to move a couple of different sorts of brushes to make them do what I want them to do. Your information about using a filbert brush was very helpful there. Thanks.

Sue

Flycatcher10 · #24 08-14-2012, 09:43 AM

Hi Sue, sorry I haven't commented before. Your final painting is awesome - really appreciated the information that was provided throughout this thread was extremely helpful.

I see all the subtle colors used, the fourth child (great figure painting - wow), the tree and grass highlights add to the richness of the scene, and I'm noticing a slight difference in the bridge color.

**Suetois** · #25 08-15-2012, 11:37 AM

Thanks, Mary. Actually, small figures like this are pretty easy. It's almost all about the posture, rather than any actual detail. You just have to suggest the posture with a few small strokes of paint, and the eye does the hard work for you. (Actually, I'm not very happy with the little boy because he looks more like he's tripping than running. I bent his front leg too much or put his rear leg too far back or both or.)

Sue

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