Danxia

oil on canvas 16 x 20 inches

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Comment by Xiao Li on July 18, 2014 at 7:09: Thank you every one for the encouragements!! I really appreciate your comments!

Michael, your detailed analysis is always right on the spot. You are right about the phone is LYING. In the photo, the reflection of the cliff on the water was just as detailed as the cliff itself if it was not more. I struggled when I painted the reflection. Since I can not go to all those beautiful places to paint. Photos would be a good resource for practice, but it is so easy to fall into the trap.

Comment by Olivia O'Carra on July 17, 2014 at 23:04: Hi Xiao. With a little tweaking following the suggestions this is going to be a fabulous painting. Well done

Comment by Michael J. Severin on July 17, 2014 at 1:40: Good morning Xiao. Beautiful colors and good light dark patterns. I agree with everyones comments about the sky reflection on the lower right corner ....too much pull there. I like the way you gradate the cliffs into the distance, but be careful of equal masses when planning your painting. Your reflections ...especially the bright orange cliff ....needs to be softer edged, darker, and grayer then what is above it .....your reflection is much too intense and saturated with color. When painting from a photograph (especially if you have not been there) we fall into the trap of painting the values and tonal relationships the photo is giving us ...but the photo is LYING to us!! Usually, the darks are too dark and uniform throughout the painting, and the lights are to saturated in a photo. So please be aware of this pitfall when painting from a photo. The 2 main things that need your immediate attention, Xiao, are the sky reflection and the cliff reflection ...hope that helps? :)))

Comment by Jessica Futerman on July 16, 2014 at 21:14: Very impressive painting! I think you could probably just extend the dark water over the light coloured shape. Beautiful colour & depth!

Comment by Xiao Li on July 16, 2014 at 17:01: Thank you Betsy Laura for your nice comments. I have not been there. It was painted based on a nice picture my friend sent me. I like the color contract and the layout, so I thought it would be a nice challenge to paint it. Betsy, you are right about the lower right corner. It is a little too big and too light and it draws too much attention. I will try to make it a little bluer and a little smaller to minimize the effect. Laura, Danxia mountain is located in Guangdong province of China. It is famouse about its red mountain and green lakes. A very beautiful place.

Comment by Laura Xu on July 16, 2014 at 13:30: Hi Xiao, this is a nice painting! This is a hard one to paint, but you have done nicely. Xiao, I am wondering what is Danxiao?

Comment by Betsy Jenkins on July 16, 2014 at 12:53: You pushed the colors here and I really like the blue/green-orange/red color scheme.What fascinating rock formations. I saw some with those colors in Arizona. Not sure what the white curve in the front is..reflection of the sky? It's pulling my eye to it because it is so light. The eye is always pulled to the lightest area. That's why the old masters had their figures bathed in light surrounded by a darker background. Not sure how to tell you how to deemphasize that pull. Perhaps make it land? I th this is a very good painting. How lucky you are to have seen this scene!