Roof lines

bnoonan · #1 01-09-2011, 12:04 PM

Hi there,

I'm always trying to push my compositions a bit more and though I'm not sure this is finally resolved, I do like the balance of a lot of sky with the darker shapes.

What are your thoughts?
Is there any emotion you get from looking at this piece?
Are the colors too warm? cool?

Anything you can offer would be appreciated. I may not change it but would value what you have to say.

Thanks, Barb

PS: I see some drawing issues on roof lines... Drats.

on Wallis paper with a watercolor underpainting. 19" x 19"

**allydoodle** · #2 01-09-2011, 12:34 PM

Barb,

I like the color pallet, the warms and cools work for me. You've said you like the balance of the sky with the rooftops on this one, yet I feel it is competing with the interesting shapes of the rooftops. When I crop some off the top by scrolling down on my screen, I'm pulled into the painting more. It feels like you want it to be about the rooftops, but there's more sky, so my eye gets confused. That would be my only crit, you've already picked up on the drawing issues of the roof lines. If you like the sky the way it is, then please ignore my comments, it's only my opinion. I'm far from expert on this. It's a neat subject to paint, and you've handled the colors expertly.

PETE K · #3 01-09-2011, 01:24 PM

HI Barb, on this one i think I'll have to agree with Chris about the sky. It does add more of an inpact with just a little of the sky taken off. I also see the far left rake. ( can't you tell i'm a roofer by trade) It bowes somewhat. and the pitch is slighly off. I love your concept of this piece. and the colours do work for me.

bnoonan · #4 01-09-2011, 01:46 PM

What wrong lines?

I know the sky is an issue but I've shifted it here a bit... darkened the top slightly and "neutralized it" I cut off the left a bit more and the top.

This is all done in the computer... thoughts now?

B

robertsloan2 · #5 01-09-2011, 01:57 PM

Variation in the sky or even distinct light and dark cloud shapes might improve it.

I like the sag in the rooftop at the far left. That really works. There's a perspective problem in the angle of the short section that meets the edge though, if you correct that angle the rooftops will all look natural. A slightly sagging roof looks more interesting than a mechanically perfect one, please do not fix the slightly swooping line!

If you shade the sky lighter at the bottom, then go darker and cooler moving toward violet at the top it'll come out beautiful, become more interesting. Especially if you add one or two abstract cloud shapes that pick up the light colors on their underside and go a little darker, violet will work well with that peach. That or crop the sky closer to the rooftops than the previous crop and still lighten it more at the bottom.

I hope these suggestions help. The overall color harmony is beautiful and the composition is close to great, it just needs variation to balance the rooftops above it. I like your sky textures, it just needs gradation and color variegation.

PETE K · #6 01-09-2011, 02:20 PM

Barb I liked what you had before. just a little off the top. the part I was talking about is where you cut it off on the left side with no computer line on it. all the others work fine with me. I feel it gave the piece more ballance. easy and peaceful to look at. but then again I have seen more roof lines in day then i have ever seen the actual house it was on.

**allydoodle** · #7 01-09-2011, 02:31 PM

I like what you've done with the sky now

. Seems proportionaly better. The darkening also seems to bring me in more. I think when you work on the perspective, it will bring the whole thing together. You know what needs to be done there, and I think then the viewer won't be distracted. You're very close, I think. I know you like to work loose, which I love BTW, and when you couple that with perspective, it's always difficult. I do think the perspective has to be believable though. This is already fantastic, just some small tweaking.

John Palmer Fine Art · #8 01-10-2011, 10:18 AM

Nice painting Barb and an interesting subject, love all those angles which no doubt drew you to it in the first place. John

vhsummers · #9 01-10-2011, 10:58 AM

I like this peice Barb. It reminds me of being a child looking out the upstairs hall window into the sky and just daydreaming. Yea the tops of the other houses were in my view but my mind was in the skys. Valerie

Kathryn Wilson · #10 01-10-2011, 01:16 PM

I like the variation with the darker top - you know how to do this, so I'll shut my trap

Orchidacea · #11 01-10-2011, 06:29 PM

Love it! I like the new lines, they work much better, but I liked the first comp and colors/values, especially the sky. I live high up in an old house, and I love looking out at the rooflines of the other houses in the neighborhood. (I've photographed rooflines and sky so many times and haven't caught "it" yet. Wish I knew what i was after....)

But this is really compelling. It's the warm light on the gable end that makes it for me. The warm/cool and all those angles make for such an interesting piece. I really like it.

Tisiphone · #12 01-11-2011, 05:44 AM

Hey, Barb, I always love your architecture pieces. I am no perspective expert so can't help, but your colors are warm and inviting as with many of your pieces. Maybe you know this, but I wonder if Pete K would explain what a rake is for us non-roofing types?

MCook04 · #13 01-11-2011, 09:20 AM

This is such a unique composition. I enjoy it a lot!

Mike

bnoonan · #14 01-11-2011, 11:08 AM

Thanks all - been too busy to read and comment. Will do soon.

B

bnoonan · #15 01-14-2011, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robertsloan2

Variation in the sky or even distinct light and dark cloud shapes might improve it.

I'll keep that in mind - I think I'll keep out clouds as a personal preference.

I like the sag in the rooftop at the far left. That really works. There's a perspective problem in the angle of the short section that meets the edge though, if you correct that angle the rooftops will all look natural. A slightly sagging roof looks more interesting than a mechanically perfect one, please do not fix the slightly swooping line!

Interesting that the sag in the roof is something you like. I can see that variety may be more attractive.

If you shade the sky lighter at the bottom, then go darker and cooler moving toward violet at the top it'll come out beautiful, become more interesting. Especially if you add one or two abstract cloud shapes that pick up the light colors on their underside and go a little darker, violet will work well with that peach. That or crop the sky closer to the rooftops than the previous crop and still lighten it more at the bottom.

I hope these suggestions help. The overall color harmony is beautiful and the composition is close to great, it just needs variation to balance the rooftops above it. I like your sky textures, it just needs gradation and color variegation.

Thanks Robert - I appreciate your careful input and suggestions.

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