A still life for my neighbor

[Sana Almimar]

Hello my friends in art
Few weeks ago one of my neighbors asked me to paint a still life for her .When i started painting i received a message from an art group at face book to participate in an exhibition so i decided to participate with this still life painting .When the exhibition finished i published it at my FB page ...i got a great success and praising for this still life painting that i decided to keep it and paint another one for my neighbor (who has not seen it yet) .Now i am working in another still life painting for her .
Here is the still life painting which is oil on canvas 50x60 cm .
What do you think of it ?
Thanks in advance for watching and commenting

Sana

[Nicolay]

Very nice painting & congratulations on getting great feedback. A few areas could use some color variation, like the cloth ... to give it more life, but you managed exactly this on the focal points on it, so its all good. The roses are lovely!!!

In regards to not giving this one to the neighbours ... my only advice would be not to hold done artworks too dear. Its obviously a good idea to keep a few milestone pieces, so as to judge your progress in skills, but you may find the next still life you do is even better, at which time you could given them this one ... but I'm generally speaking about being too protective over works.

Oh well, you'll find your own way ;-)

[sidbledsoe]

The rendition and colors are nice and soft and pleasing. I like the coloring and lack of variations such as in the cloth. But I am wondering about the drawing. The table looks like it is rising substantially on the left hand side rather than being level. I have drawn two lines on the front and the back of the table, the front is in line with the tablecloth crease and the back line is drawn consistent with the back, where it is exposed, between the objects. The front line looks level except where the table rises at the left, and the back doesn't look level. The large vase also seems to be swooping up to the left, at the center divide between the blue/green and tan, top and bottom halves.

[Sana Almimar]

Hi Nico ....thanks a lot for liking my painting ....regarding the second painting ...yes it seems that i like it more than the first one !!! I think i should start a third painting for her

[Eduardo Flores]

Originally Posted by sidbledsoe

...The table looks like it is rising substantially on the left hand side rather than being level....

That's true, and this characteristics is a point of force of this composition.

The border of the table is inclined, because the table itself is not exactly in front of the observer, but at an angle, with its right side (left for the observer) a bit farther than the left side from the plane of the canvas.

What is the artistic consequence of this violation of the classic rule of the border of the table being exactly horizontal? First, this rule is so widespread that it is boring; second, and most important, this asymmetry gives the composition dynamism, force, aliveness, originality.

I would like to draw your attention to the correspondence between this inclination to the left (for the observer) of the border of the table and the dynamic tendency of the left rose towards the same direction: this creates a diagonal line of force, a spinal column within the composition, and this embedded movement is one of the marks of a creative work of art: it gives life to a otherwise static composition!

As far as the other border is concerned, you are right, there is an extra inclination that Sana will easily correct, making of this work an excellent one.

Eduardo

[sidbledsoe]

The border of the table is inclined, because the table itself is not exactly in front of the observer, but at an angle, with its right side (left for the observer) a bit farther than the left side from the plane of the canvas.

Providing that the table has a level top, and the table is at angle to the observer, then it will still form one contiguous and straight line that follows proper perspective.

[giannik]

Beautiful painting Sana, I find the artistic analysis of Eduardo and Sidbledsoe very interesting

Gianni

[Sana Almimar]

giannik...Thanks a lot for the compliment !!!!

[Max Klinger]

Yes, very beautiful painting Sana. I like the colours very much and also the still geometric quiet style. I confirm what has written above by Eduardo and Sid and know from own experiance how difficult it is to keep lines in a still life.

What I propose and did not right myself in the past is to get away from too horizontal and vertical lines. Try to bring in declining lines or inclination. It brings more power without reducing the geomatric and quiet expression effect. It is difficult but worth to give it a try in your next works.

Best wishes, Max

[Sana Almimar]

Hello MaxHappy to hear from you after so long time ...also very happy to know that you liked my painting ..Thanks a lot for your advice which i will take into consideration in my next works ..best regards

Sana

[Eduardo Flores]

Originally Posted by Max Klinger

...to get away from too horizontal and vertical lines. Try to bring in declining lines or inclination. It brings more power without reducing the geomatric and quiet expression effect. It is difficult but worth to give it a try in your next works...

You are expressing here, clearly, an important concept: the convenience of taking movement into a still life, so it is "still' only in its name.

Difficult, but a lot less if we think of the inclined lines as part of a whole: the "line of force" (generally a diagonal) that crosses the canvas and, instead of dividing it, animates it with an implied flow.

Eduardo

[wetbob]

You are expressing here, clearly, an important concept: the convenience of taking movement into a still life, so it is "still' only in its name.

Yes but how to incorporate it here? Maybe play with the sheet?

Nice greens!

[Eduardo Flores]

Originally Posted by wetbob

Yes but how to incorporate it here?...

It is already incorporated in this Sana's work, please see my post #5.

Eduardo

[Sana Almimar]

Hello wetbob....Here is my painting after correcting the second border of the table ...i left the other border as it is because you can see how the rose decidedly going to the left (of the observer ) how this harmonizes with the border of the table going up on the left and how these two facts become just one : a visual movement within the scene .
Hope that this explains the convenience of taking movement into a still life .
Thanks for watching .

[wetbob]

it s a beautiful painting

It is already incorporated in this Sana's work, please see my post #5.

Eduardo

Sorry, i thought in an other direction