Three Graces (WIP)

[jk4493]

MY IMAGE(S):



GENERAL INFORMATION:
Title: Three Graces (WIP)
Year Created: 2007
Medium: Oil
Surface: Linen
Dimension: 16
Allow digital alterations?: Yes!

MY COMMENTS:
Hello,<br><br>I am planning to submit this piece to a local art show and would greatly appreciate help in finishing it.

MY QUESTIONS FOR THE GROUP:
Would appreciate thoughts on the composition, especially the drapery - does it compete with the cats themselves? ANy other input to finish this piece in the best way possible is welcome!

[TONY CUBAN]

If this were mine I would mute the details from the thing the cats are sitting
on, to me this this is a detraction. I like the zig zag pattern to the left, the top cat seems to be challenging it presence.

[toraman]

A complete painting with everything from composition to technique. The only thing that disturbs me is the cats eyes, they look a bit distorted. Great painting.

[jk4493]

Thanks, Anthony - good idea to mute the rug they are on... and your remark about the upright cat challenging the drapery makes me realize I should probably mute that.

Toraman, thanks also for your kind comments - the cats eyes are not finished yet, that may be why they look off...!

[jk4493]

I did a bit more work on the eyes... I wonder how best to subdue the foreground? I suppose a glaze?

[Corby]

Yes, I appreciate Toramans mark about the eyes. The front cat on the left, his right eye seems a bit wonky and the cat on the right they both may be a bit large and the straight line across the top gives him sort of a basilisk stare. What really caught my attention with this painting was the beauty of the flow of light. And you mentioned not being sure about the striped cloth. You have the perfect setup for increasing that sense of light flow and bringing out the sumptuous setting so as to enhance the cats. I would remove the striped cloth entirely Both the blue and the pink pillow need extended in size toward the left. Overlapping them and really playing up the light where it falls on their edges . This keeps your pyramidal composition in balance and gives a sense of space so the upper cats gaze to the left is into that space and so it is acceptable. The fore ward cat right, I would increase my shadow behind his body at the foot of the pillow. Emphasize that flow of light wherever you can. It is quite beautiful over the cats bodies. The last thing I would lighten the background and make it still dark but more atmospheric, remembering that as the light is entering your painting from the upper left, that should be the darkest portion of the painting. It is flowing from there, touching everything as it goes. Its end of path is the background upper right. This will be lightest as the light is falling full on it. This IS a lovely work. These are only suggestions. They may or may not be of use to you. happy painting!

[jk4493]

Thanks so much, Lee for taking the time to give me such a thorough and useful critique. I greatly appreciate the reminder about following the light (re the atmosphere in the background)... and the eyes, yes, I know they need work.

I am quite taken by your rework of the composition. I like it very much... I have just printed out your edited version and my original and will sleep on it to decide how much to rework for the submission.

Thanks again for your help. I took the opportunity to visit your website: you do wonderful work: such great brushwork! I am aspiring to develop free, decisive brushwork (and am woefully far from it yet).
Warm regards,
Janine.

[D.W. Flint]

This is a very well rendered piece, but the first thing that drew my attention were the eyes on the two lower cats, especially the one on the right. To me they distract from the peacefullness of the scene. If it wasn't for that I would absolutely love this painting.

[La_]

beauty!

i love the top center cats stare, accentuated by the angle of the pillow ... he's the leader
love that the eyes glow
the curtain looks like a prop as it doesn't hang naturally

verynice!

la