Dixon's Apple Orchard

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Comment by Candi Hogan on September 10, 2015 at 12:23

Thanks so much Michael!  I knew it wasn't working at all, so did not submit this one.  I'll go back in using your suggestions and see if I can't fix it somewhat!  You're the best!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Comment by Michael J. Severin on September 10, 2015 at 12:19

Hi Candi.  Okay, your drawing of the truck ..and landscape ..are both very well done.  The problem  ..the background landscape and truck do not relate in spacial harmony ..I will get back to that, but first:  Let's look at the truck.  As I said earlier, good accurate drawing.  Now the truck just cannot be painted with the local colors you see in the photo ...you must paint what the light is doing to those colors.  It looks like your light source is coming from above (noon?).  BTW, you have really bitten off a lot to chew here !  So keep in mind that the top of the truck planes will be WARMER with blue reflected light from the sky...the photo actually shows the blue reflected light.  The bottom portions of the red fender and cab will have warm reflected light from the ground .You will have warm reflected light into the black tires ..which BTW should not be black.  Now look carefully at your photo of the red truck ..notice that the "black" dumpster part is really not black ..notice that it picks up the reflected light from the grass ..in your case, it will more warm light from the ground ...Try painting that section with a combination of your red and green ..but don't make it a black. That green undercarriage ..again, put in some warm reflected light.  Next, you must ruthlessly soften some edges to integrate your truck into its surroundings.  Make sure you find a way to distribute the other colors of the landscape into the truck.  The truck looks like it is a cut out sitting in front of a landscape ..that is because of all the hard edges and not relating any of the colors of the landscape into the truck.  Okay, now let's get back and discuss why the landscape and truck do not relate.  Your landscape is painted very well, but the photo you choose to paint ..that plane is way to far distant.  It looks like your sitting on a cliff with the valley far below.  If that is what you want ..fine ..but then you must have a TRANSITION of some kind ...it just does not look right with a ninety degree sheer cliff inches from the truck wheel.   A possible transition would be some closer apple trees marching down the slope into the valley?  Okay, that's it Candi.  Very good drawing and painting ..it is now just a matter of relating everything into a unified painting.  Hope that helps?

Comment by Candi Hogan on September 10, 2015 at 9:19

These are the 3 ref. photos I used.

Comment by Candi Hogan on September 10, 2015 at 9:17

Comment by Candi Hogan on September 10, 2015 at 9:16

Here are my reference photos.