Wisent

Wolfhound · #1 03-31-2001, 10:45 AM

<IMG SRC="http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/31-Mar-2001/wisent2.jpg" border=0>
This is a chromacolour painting of an European Bison (or wisent). I took the photo at a wildlife park in scotland. I wanted to get the background to look like sun sparkling through trees but it has't worked properly - any suggetions anyone?

Shirl · #2 03-31-2001, 11:13 AM

I think it's wonderful just the way it is. You have sufficient light on the Wisent.

Shirl

animal · #3 03-31-2001, 03:47 PM

I really like how you have done the wisent`s textures and the sun reflecting onto his fur. I also like the colours you have used.

Barbara · #4 03-31-2001, 06:50 PM

Wolfhound:
Who the heck is looking at the background with that magnificent powerful beast staring you eye to eye?? Seriously, beautiful job portraying the size and power of this animal. I think the background is just fine.
Barb

tammy · #5 03-31-2001, 09:24 PM

I agree with Barb. Looks fabulous that way.

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BillieD · #6 03-31-2001, 10:15 PM

I agree, I like it like it is! However, if you are wanting the sun dappling through the background, you might add just a few hints of warmer color (yellow and orange) highlighting the foliage...but, try it first by putting a piece of transparent film over the painting and doing the proposed changes to see how you like it. (I am having a senior moment and can't think of the name of the film I am thinking about...mylar doesn't sound right, but keeps flashing into my mind...it is heavier than cellophane, like they use for report covers.)

I love it like it is, though. You know some one has a quote, "it takes two people to make a painting, one to create it and one to kill you before you mess it up!" or something to that order.

Billie Dawn

ironhorse · #7 04-01-2001, 10:24 AM

WOHA I'm with Barbara too. background, what background!!
Beatuiful piece. And lucky you going to Scotland....get any pics of Highland ponys??
Twyla

wendee · #8 04-02-2001, 05:17 AM

I agree with everyone else..It's great just the way it is...wonderful..hope i never meet it on a dark night..LOL..

cmorrow05 · #9 04-02-2001, 11:58 AM

This is gorgeous. Don't change a thing!!

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Colleen

Jim · #10 04-04-2001, 12:00 AM

Beautiful Painting...seriously, it looks awesome just the way it is! I think if you went messin' around with the background at this point you fowl up the wonderful lighting effect that's happening in it now.
No web site? You've gotta get one going soon.
What did you paint this with ... Oils or Acrylics? O.K. here goes and this is for anyone who can help me in my quest to take better photographs of my paintings. What type of camera did you use to take your photo? I really loose mega-detail when I photograph my stuff with my cruddy digital camera. In order to show the world how much detail goes into a painting, I think it's important for us to show as much as possible with our .gif or .jpg presentations. Can someone please help me out in this department? Thanks!

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<center> Cloud Ten Graphics *Artwork by Jim* </center>

sajemak · #11 04-04-2001, 12:04 AM

I agree that this is a fine painting!

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LarrySeiler · #12 04-04-2001, 09:24 AM

I'm not in disagreement with everyone about this being a fine painting, however I'm assuming your question as genuinely seeking an answer to what as an artist would be more intriguing to you.

You have a couple things to consider, one you can use cool colors in the background to help the warm backlit hairs of this Bison stand out...which essentially you have done with this shadow green you have used. What probably is not sitting right with you is because this is a portrait, in a sense a "vignette" compositional arrangement... isolating an area as dominant as the background would be here with cool colors does not really pull the piece together into a harmonious whole.

Painting and good design require a bouncing around of colors throughout a whole picture which we know as "rythym"...a repeating of color ideas. There is very little sense of color notes of this background's green to be seen in the Bison, and no warm colors of the bison to be seen in the background.

Now...another way a background could be done would be to warm up the background.

This is one reason a classic way of painting was to pre-tone the whole canvas panel with a warm ocre or other color, such that a bit of it would be allowed to be seen throughout the whole painting and pull the picture together as a whole.

By introducing warmer color notes similar to the Bison into the background, you will extend the principle of color rythym throughout and the Bison will feel as though more solid and existing in his atmospheric environment.

If I have time...I will try and make an example of your piece here.

Yes...it is fine the way it is...but, I think I know what you are wanting...and that would not only be fine as well, but better. I tell my students "Good is never good enough when you dream of being best!"

Larry

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"Painting is easy when you don't know how, but very difficult when you do!" Edgar Degas

LarrySeiler · #13 04-04-2001, 02:38 PM

Okay...here is one version, one idea. I cooled the shadows a bit...leaning them toward violets which then help the lit up areas (yellow) stand out stronger. Secondly, I warmed up the color balance of the background, added streaks of brilliant light coming in at an angle to suggest the sun. I also brightened up the values of some of the fur and horn getting hit by light.

The result is...it bathes the bison in the light of its environment, also adding a greater sense of dynamics and drama. -Larry

<IMG SRC="http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Apr-2001/bison.jpg" border=0>
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The Artsmentor

"Painting is easy when you don't know how, but very difficult when you do!" Edgar Degas

[This message has been edited by lseiler (edited April 04, 2001).]

LarrySeiler · #14 04-04-2001, 03:20 PM

Okay....this is wierd. I made the adjustments of the image on my iMac at school. Now that I'm home looking at this on my PC...the darks look very dark, and I don't see the violet influence much at all.

So...I can't help but wonder what others see, wondering...if others see what I saw on the iMac...or if others see what I'm looking at here. So...are the darks real dark? Does anyone sense the violets I established in the darks? If not...I'll save and copy this image I did on my PC and readjust it. Good grief!

Larry

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The Artsmentor

"Painting is easy when you don't know how, but very difficult when you do!" Edgar Degas

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