Hoping for a treat

This ibex was standing on a ledge beside a steep slope in the desert, close to a sign saying "Please don't feed the ibex"! There was a whole group of these beautiful mountain goats coming & going, hoping someone would give them a snack!

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Comment by Jessica Futerman on July 9, 2013 at 21:35: Thanks very much, Michael! I have to say that I came to the background by trial & error, rather than deliberately as you would have done, but I did like the effect it gave of the hint of a desert landscape!

Comment by Michael J. Severin on July 9, 2013 at 8:49: Another thing I like about this painting Jessica, is how you introduced the orange color into the blue background!! ..If you had not done that, your background would have failed. Those oranges and blues created some great colored grays. When someone asks me what color I used for my demo mountain, I will point to this painting ...because basically, that is what I used.

Comment by Jessica Futerman on July 9, 2013 at 5:36: Very encouraging to get your positive & helpful comments, Michael & glad you think the background works like this! Yes, adding highlights could make a big difference; will try that. As for the cast shadow from the horns, one of my sons also objected to that shape, which is funnily enough exactly as it appeared in real life! I actually thought it was an interesting shape, but I guess it is too weird to be believable, & maybe so unusual that is drawing too much attention, so I'll adjust that - will repost after I make the changes. Thanks everyone for your help on this one! Much appreciated.

Comment by Michael J. Severin on July 9, 2013 at 3:18: I think the background is fine .......It is atmospheric and hints at being a distant landscape. I think it relates to the Ibex well ...making the animal "pop" with the orange/blue contrast. You have wonderful gradations in your background and rocks ...Look at your photo very closely and see where you can put some sunlit highlights? .especially around the head (the focal point). maybe around the ears and the little bit of white on the neck ...and maybe a glint on the horns? ....I don't know, sometimes those little sparkles can be magical!!! The ONLY thing on this great painting that is troubling is the cast shadow shape on the animal .. is that a cast shadow of those little horns? I would take that particular shape out ..it is an odd shape that is taking us away from the head and eyes. I love this painting!! ...it is one of your best!!!

Comment by Jessica Futerman on July 8, 2013 at 17:50: Hi Silvana - thanks for your idea! Originally I did have some of the desert colours behind the ibex, but I found that I couldn't make the animal "pop" against the background like that, so I'm not sure about putting mountains behind him. The problem is that the ibex's colours really blend into the background - he is really very well camouflaged for the desert environment! I may have to leave it as is & think harder about composition if I try to paint another one like this!

Comment by Silvana M Albano on July 8, 2013 at 9:43: Hi Jessica! What if you make some other mountains, as in a mountain range at different distances, so the last are really light? And you keep some of the sky?Your Ibex is wonderful!

Comment by Jessica Futerman on July 8, 2013 at 8:33: Wonder if anyone else has an idea about the background? Would be interested to know what would improve this? If I painted it again, I think I'd make the ibex bigger, but that's not an option here!