Critique appreciated (1 Viewer)

Dave B · Dec 15, 2006

I'd appreciate it if you folks could cast a critical eye over this painting that I've just uploaded.

I think it's almost finished - just need to tidy up the fronds of padi so that they overlap as they should. Anything else you think it needs doing to it? It's been on the go for about 6 months, so it's very difficult for me to 'see' the picture - I just see a collection of brush-strokes!

For Tim - this picture has not been 'digitally remastered'!

Chinese Pond Heron in a Paddy

Thanks

Dave

Bob in SF · Dec 15, 2006

Beautiful

Dave B said:
I'd appreciate it if you folks could cast a critical eye over this painting that I've just uploaded.

I think it's almost finished - just need to tidy up the fronds of padi so that they overlap as they should. Anything else you think it needs doing to it? It's been on the go for about 6 months, so it's very difficult for me to 'see' the picture - I just see a collection of brush-strokes!

For Tim - this picture has not been 'digitally remastered'!

Chinese Pond Heron in a Paddy

Thanks

Dave

Dave - It's beautiful. Wondering if some very subtle foreground/reflection blue wash work might mirror the blue feathers without dropping the viewer's eye too much. Great parallels of grass and feather in your painting. If you're set up with airbrush, the last step can also haze/fog out background detail if you are so inclined. These are mini-ideas - it's a wonderfully engaging work. - Bob

matt green · Dec 15, 2006

Wonderfull sense of posture and movement..

I also like the fact that the sorroundings do not distract or draw the eye away from the central image.

Matt

graeme782 · Dec 15, 2006

Although i usually look at the various paintings that are posted on BF, often requesting critique, i've generally nothing constructive to say, as the standards are variable to say the least, and i therefore don't post. However, i couldn't 'not comment' on this. It's absolutely superb and has an almost photographic quality to it. You're obviously very talented, well done. Don't bother doing anything more to it and get cracking on with the next one. I look forward to seeing it.

Graeme.

gillian · Dec 15, 2006

Sorry Dave I have nothing helpful to add but... I just wanted to say that I think it is brilliant! Beautiful

Strandman · Dec 15, 2006

Dave B said:
I'd appreciate it if you folks could cast a critical eye over this painting that I've just uploaded.

I think it's almost finished - just need to tidy up the fronds of padi so that they overlap as they should. Anything else you think it needs doing to it? It's been on the go for about 6 months, so it's very difficult for me to 'see' the picture - I just see a collection of brush-strokes!
..

Thanks

Dave

That's really fine.

If you are having trouble "seeing" a picture after working on it for too long, one handy trick is to look at in a mirror. You would be amazed what sometimes jumps out at you if you try that.

As for critique..well this is a bit good for that. The one thing I would be tempted to do would be to soften the fronds in the backgound and strengthen them in the foreground to give an extra sense of depth. Maybe by lightening the darker greens in the background a touch (for example those at the base of the fronds above the bird's back) and darken the basal section of the fronds in the foreground- in effect reducing contrast towards the rear and increasing it at the front. But that is very much by way of fine tuning and there's always the fear that it might go wrong...

Ed K

colonelboris · Dec 16, 2006

That's disturbingly good.

timeshadowed · Dec 16, 2006

That painting is beautiful! I only wish that I could do as good.

timeshadowed · Dec 16, 2006

Dave,
That painting looks soooo real! It looks just like a photo. Great detail.

buzzard12 · Dec 16, 2006

Great piece, that as Tim says, is finished. Superb image that holds a real sense of impending action and tension, which brings the bird alive....

Well done and dont touch!

nickderry · Dec 16, 2006

DON'T TOUCH IT!!!!!!!

It is beautifully accomplished, and if you go too far it could end up losing its charm. I've started taking phtos of my pictures on the go and I have to say I prefer the pictures halfway through the painting to the finished result.

jcwings · Dec 16, 2006

Amazing Dave! I think it is quite well done. What exactly is the medium? It looks like watercolor on my monitor.

Dave B · Dec 16, 2006

jcwings said:
Amazing Dave! I think it is quite well done. What exactly is the medium? It looks like watercolor on my monitor.

Thanks for all the kind comments and helpful suggestions. I think I might be tempted to work on the contrast between near and far blades as Ed suggests. But I'll sit on it for another week.

The bird is acryllic, as are the rice stalks in the foreground. The water and most of the background is watercolour.

There is a larger res version of the pic on my blog.

Dave

buzzard12 · Dec 16, 2006

Dave B said:
Thanks for all the kind comments and helpful suggestions. I think I might be tempted to work on the contrast between near and far blades as Ed suggests. But I'll sit on it for another week.

The bird is acrylic, as are the rice stalks in the foreground. The water and most of the background is watercolour.

There is a larger res version of the pic on my blog.

Dave

The watercolour background will make it difficult to knock it back, perhaps a little dull red through the rice leaves would work, but I see little wrong with it as it stands. It would be a shame to overpaint such a lovely piece...

Perhaps you should leave it alone...

Critique appreciated (1 Viewer)

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Dave B

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Bob in SF

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matt green

Norfolkman gone walkabout

graeme782

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gillian

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Strandman

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colonelboris

Right way up again

timeshadowed

Time is a Shadow

timeshadowed

Time is a Shadow

buzzard12

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nickderry

C'est pas ma faute, je suis anglais.

jcwings

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Dave B

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buzzard12

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