fishing cove in November

[sundiver]

The place is so small I forget the name and can't find it on a map.
I'm at the "aaack, I hate it" stage. I don't want to start whining about what it is I don't like, which is almost everything, but I would be very receptive to suggestions.

In the ref photo I took, the breakwater fence thingie went all the way over to where the rusty oil drum is. That's supposedly a compositional no-no, so I shortened it. But I'm not sure how to make a transition from pavement to gravelly beach, and does that just cut the picture in half vertically? Oops, I started whining after all! I'll shut up now.
it's o.p.8x10

[Dark_Shades]

ohhhh Wendy have no idea why you dont like this......... is wonderful...... look at all those warm sunlights....... perhaps you have just been looking/working on it too long...... I would leave it as it is, and call it done..... to me its perfect

[Khadres]

Originally Posted by sundiver

The place is so small I forget the name and can't find it on a map. I'm at the "aaack, I hate it" stage. I don't want to start whining about what it is I don't like, which is almost everything, but I would be very receptive to suggestions.

I like it pretty much the way it is! The gravel/sand thing....maybe show pebbly rocks on the gravel part here and there and none in the sand?....might make a subtle color shift between the two, as well.

That and the big orange round thing on the leftish....whassat? Another oil drum or an orange? Love the colors in it, but.....

Otherwise, quit findin' fault with it and finish it up!

Admiringly, Sooz

[Tom Christopher]

One suggestion you may consider is taking out some of the color intensity in the background pines. You can do this by lightly tapping with a piece of tissue or cotton bud. Then soften the edges and blend some sky into the tree line.. I think it will add distance/atmosphere to your painting. Adding more variatioin in intesity adds demension. Hopes this helps... The painting gives me a feeling of outdoors away from civilization-- a good start--Tom

[sundiver]

Thanks, Dawn, Sooz and Tom for the encouragement and good suggestions!

Originally Posted by Khadres

That and the big orange round thing on the leftish....whassat? Another oil drum or an orange? Love the colors in it, but.....
Admiringly, Sooz

lol it's a humongous old rusty buoy! must be 4 ft in diameter

[Paula Ford]

Originally Posted by Dark_Shades

ohhhh Wendy have no idea why you dont like this......... is wonderful...... look at all those warm sunlights....... perhaps you have just been looking/working on it too long...... I would leave it as it is, and call it done..... to me its perfect

I agree...it's perfect!!!

[MKathleen]

Wendy, I love the look and feeling of warm sunlight you were able to acheive. I think it's a lovely painting....Good Work!
Kathy

[Artaholic]

Wendy, lovely . I live in a town that small but not nearly as pretty.

[Kathryn Wilson]

Hi Wendy: Lovely painting - all sunlit, but still looks cold . . . brrrr. I knew what the buoy thing was, but I'm a born-on-the water person and have been around things like that - I have seen some buoys painted different colors, so it might help to make it more buoy-like to paint it red/white? Artistic license. I agree on the division of the painting - you might make the path narrower and more at an angle - not sure -

I'm still amazed that you get so much detail in such a small painting. And, hey, girl - I just tried to do this weekend what you do all the time - paint outdoors when it's cold. I only lasted an hour -

[jackiesimmonds]

The first thing that struck me forcibly when I looked at this pic, is the huge light shape of the central "pathway", which is dominating the image. Look at this:



Surely, you want your viewer to be led to the lovely little house, don't you? Not up a rather featureless area of path, leading to ....??

One way to help reduce the impact of that large shape, is to reduce the contrast between the top of the shape (where it meets the far trees) and the darkness of the trees. Less contrast, and that line will not jump forward as it does.

Another way to help out is to add rather more shadows to the path, zig-zagging back, wider closer to the viewer, and narrowing as you go back in space.

If you lighten the tops of the shapes on the ground, in the foreground, that will take direct the eye to the start of the path ... and then you zigzag the other way, back to the house. Have a look at this - it is a pretty lousy digital attempt, couldn't find the right colours, but even so I think it reduces the impact of that huge shape and helps your eye to go to the house, which incidentally, I lightened where the sun hits:



hope this helps a bit
J

[bnoonan]

Wow - an educational lesson here - great to learn by.

I have to say that before I read what the orange items were - I was convinced it was a trophy winning pumpkin! sorry - but that's the only thing I could think of.

Looking at the photo a bit more closely I see that there is a whole lot more shadow on it with just a crescent of light - would darkening it a bit more help?

I'll just listen to the landscape/composition pros on this and lie low.

Wendy - it is absolutely a treat to open your threads and see all the wonderful colors and strong lights you put into your work. I also applaud the diligence. Keep painting!!! Barb

[meowmeow]

IT definitely has a fishing cove in November feel to it...lovely!
Jackie has given some good advice...of course I didn't see it till she pointed it out but hey! that's why we all come around here.
I wondered if it was a gigantic pumpkin too, although I have to say I thought it wasn't. Yep...those buoys are big and orange too.
Coming along nicely!

Sandy

[sundiver]

Well, I made some changes, still not too comfortable with some areas, but going to put it away for awhile. Thanks for all the good suggestions!
(I did leave the buoy its original rusty color, but lightened it and accentuated the thing sticking out of it so it looks more man-made. Any of you who would expect The Great Pumpkin to be left on the beach in November when the tide goes out ; well, say hi to Linus for me!)

and for the pumpkin-finders:

[Luvy]

The only thing that bothers me is the bouy I didn't know what it was until I ready what it was. I'd lose that but love everything else *S*

[jackiesimmonds]

I think this pic is now rather lovely, it has the most wonderful quality of light in it, a particular time of day, it really works.

well done

And wow - I have never, ever seen a pumpkin like that!

J