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  • #457930

    This one was done on half a sheet of Canson 9×12″ watercolor paper. I’m not really happy with the way it turned out. The lightning looks too cartoony to me. I also think the shadows are off, but I’m not sure what’s wrong with them. Looking for constructive criticism on this one.

    #646012
    maryinasia
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        already dramatic! I would increase value contrast…and make the sign more clearly a sign and not a person…and perhaps make the shadows radiate a little and not be parallel to each other, if that makes sense…and maybe break up the horizon line or make the back of the field and the sky darker and the horizon line less distinct…

        #646015
        Ellen E
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            I agree with maryinasia and also wanted to add my observation. I think maybe the reason you find the lightning kind of off is because you’ve put in too many “tentacles” of lightning. I think eliminating some of those and then following Mary’s suggestions as you choose to would really make it better.

            And as for the sign, I thought that was a second person at first glance, too. Possibly bringing the sign closer to the foreground might be a good idea.

            #646014
            vegaskip
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                I think the advice given is very good, but I don’t think you have the ability to carry it out (watercolour is notoriously difficult to alter, I personally would not attempt it) I would start again, using this one as reference, while carrying out the suggested alterations on the new one. However if you think you have the skill, by all means go ahead with the alterations. I look forward to the end result.

                Jim

                #646017

                Thank you for the advice everybody! I think all of your suggestions are spot on.

                Funny so many people saw the sign as a second person; that never occurred to me. Having another set of eyes to evaluate one’s work is so helpful.

                Not planning on fixing this one. Just gonna chalk it up to a learning experience.

                #646010
                Wassie
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                    Google lightening on the Internet. I think you have too many tentacles and they are too wide.

                    #646013
                    maryinasia
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                        Personally, I would continue to play with this one. Have fun!

                        #646011
                        sjs
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                            I like this! Great colours, composition and subject. Every picture tells a story. 😊

                            Sarah

                            ' In the depths of winter I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer ' Albert Camus

                            #646016
                            raindancers
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                                Lighting tends to have one or two thick branches. From there it branches off finer and finer. Think of plant roots or blood veins. I’m also not seeing the scene actually being lit by the lightning. The person should have sharp contrast light and shadows almost like on a very bright day, same goes for the ground and the undersides of the clouds. Looks like you are adding white, so give those highlighted areas a go.

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