"Dream Paradise"

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Comment by Jon Main on September 12, 2014 at 7:02

That's an interesting discussion, because, clasically landscape paintings tended to play up the sky, whereas some contemporary painters crop in and  avoid 'panaromas". I note that Marc Delessio - who I absolutely love - has big skies

Comment by Jeri McDonald on September 12, 2014 at 2:35

Hey guys, thanks for the help. So appreciated. I feel better now. I did cover the bottom Michael and it does look better. Wish I had made the sky a bit wider now but used the 2/3 rule trying to get the perspective correct. One photo had some green ground cover in that area but I took it out and put some rocks and painted the shadows. I may work on my rocks a bit more to give them a more realistic look. I have so much trouble painting rocks! I hate doing them! I subdued them with darker colors to keep attention in the sky. Thanks again Stu and Michael for the critique.

Comment by Michael J. Severin on September 12, 2014 at 0:56

Hi Jeri.  Beautiful painting!! ....Love your handling of the clouds.  I agree with Stu about the foreground.  Would like to add ... for filing away for future paintings .....if the emphasis is on the sky and clouds, then even a lower horizon would have been desirable.  If you take you hand and cover part of the lower foreground, you will see what I mean.  You feel the need to put something more into it ..as you stated ....because there is a lot of space.  Your solution of putting cloud shadows there is a good one ....I would not clutter it up with anything more ..it would ..as Stu stated ..take away from the sky and clouds. 

Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on September 11, 2014 at 15:09

Jeri, I like your foreground. The light and dark patterns work very well as an illusion of cloud shadows, and their abstract patterns really work well. Since this is a painting about clouds, this type of foreground is perfect; you don't want anything to upstage the beautiful clouds. As Jon said, "Very harmonious". Less is usually better in the foreground. I would frame this. Really nice work. Stu

Comment by Jeri McDonald on September 11, 2014 at 10:20

Thanks guys. Hey what would you do with the foreground? I'm not entirely happy with it. I tried to give the illusion of shadow from clouds above but I still am feeling as though something else is needed in that area? 

Comment by Jon Main on September 11, 2014 at 7:50

Very harmonious, well done

Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on September 10, 2014 at 14:19

Nice colors and patterns in the clouds. Stu