Crystal Cove-Revised

Revised painting after comments by Michael Severin and multiple others. I have strengthened the figures and taken out the distracting seagulls and swimmers. Oil on textured panel, 11" by 14"

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Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on February 28, 2013 at 22:19: It's a lot different painting someone you don't know from behind or with the face in shadow, but when you have to paint the faces in sun and shadow of 3 or your grandchildren to give to your son and daughter in law, you have to get the faces so they really look like the kids. This is hard if you are primarily a landscape painter with limited portrait painting experience. So SSSLLLOOOWWWLLLYYY is the only way to do it. Trial and error, mistake and correction. And when I think it is just right I have to show it to the most important critic, their grandmother (my wife); wow!, I might not be done, even when I think it is ok. That second pair of eyes always helps. Then what about the artistry? Are my lost and found lines ok? Does my background fit with the faces and bodies? Are the folds in the clothing ok? Very hard painting for people in your family and for special friends! So slowly it is! But it is coming along ok so far. I will post it here on this site for any artistic comments when it is nearly done because I value the input and support from all of you. Stu

Comment by Ningning Li on February 28, 2013 at 18:02: Stuart, what an important word"slowly". These days I am painting a funny painting. I started it emotionally without thinking well. Then I found taht I have to paint 7 small heads and 7 cloths with a lot wrinkles. For me it is difficult . Every day, before I have to deal with those heads I have to tell myself be pacient, slowly, I can finish them one by one. I believe that a painter needs a lot of good quality of personality to finish a work, not mention about a good one. Stuart, this painting showed it. Those boys can walk down from the canvas. So impressing.

Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on February 28, 2013 at 17:15: Slowly, Barb. I've got to get those faces just right including skin color and hair color. No time pressure; I will probably enter into the county fair art show (juried) and give it to my son this Summer. Stu

Comment by Barbara Sawyer on February 28, 2013 at 9:28: Wow Stu this is great you captured the people so well How are the grandkids painting coming ?

Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on February 25, 2013 at 5:57: Thanks Jim. Stu

Comment by Jim Haycock on February 25, 2013 at 5:44: Fantastic! I love how the figures are more focused versus even the nearer foreground. It draws my eyes to these young men there. And, the waves and reflections really "work" for me. They aren't overly detailed, but real, nonetheless. There is great motion in this, too, and for me, that's important in scenes like this. (And, being a California kid, myself, there is a feeling in this painting that is very real to me.) I'd buy this one!

Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on January 11, 2013 at 15:30: Thanks Li. It's from JV's teaching and all the practice and help from others on this site like you. Your boat is really amazing to me! Stu

Comment by Ningning Li on January 11, 2013 at 13:34: I like this revised one. Amazed by your reflaction and movement of the water.

Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on January 7, 2013 at 8:46: Thanks for your kind comments Andreas. I really do like the revised painting better than the original because I removed some distracting objects and intensified the colors at my focal point. I am really more of a tonalist painter, and not much of a colorist, but I like pushing color when it makes a better painting. Getting the balance right between vivid color and a strong value structure can be challenging because overdoing the color can spoil the whole thing. You can see in my painting that my non-focal point colors (ocean, sand, cliffs and buildings) are grayed down and I have brightened the colors on my focal point (the three foreground figures). Stu

Comment by Andreas Fournaris on January 7, 2013 at 7:22: Hi Stuart! Very nice work! What do you think after this alteration? Loving vivid colors just couldn't resist ...