jayne paige

I'm beginning to work on some little paintings for an exhibit i'm planning for my local library in the Spring..I'm calling it Faces & Places ..this is my great-niece doing her favorite thing!! I would appreciate critiques - esp re how to improve the depth and add some sparkle to the foreground and background. I'm seeing the need to make stronger shadow under her planted foot..any advice is appreciated:)
6x8 oil

8 members like this

View Full Size

Tags:
Albums: Faces & Places

Add a Comment

You need to be a member of The Complete Artist to add comments!

Join The Complete Artist

Comment by Lori Ippolito on November 21, 2015 at 5:33: Thanks so much Michael! I followed the line of the field from the photo which is why it's slanted..I thought that was more dynamic than having a flat horizontal ..but the background does look like a wall!! In reality it was a mottled bunch of..not sure!! I will go over step by step and make the adjustments to the greens, etc.. I knew you'd see what I couldn't!!! Thanks very much my friend!! (The envelope exercises were a huge help in my drawing!). Oh..I just used primary colors, no pthalo..still need work on color mixing..I better really focus on those lessons!!!

Comment by Michael J. Severin on November 21, 2015 at 5:23: Lori, first of all, you do not need "sparkle" in the foreground and background ..in fact, you need less in the background ..to improve the depth, you need to merge the background vertical plane with the flat plane of the soccer field ..the green grass needs to be cooler, much grayer, and horizontal. I cannot tell if the background is a vertical plane (wall) or part of the horizontal flat plane (the field). Suggest you think about merging the two as a flat plane of grass. No sparkle in the background ..it is the background .keep it that way. Your grand niece is the sparkle in the foreground. Your depth can also be improved by using vertical strokes for the grass as it comes nearer us....horizontal strokes in the distance, vertical in the foreground. Okay, did you use thalo green ...your green looks much to saturated. Try mixing a more subdued mother green and then bend that mixture to warm/cool tones as needed. Spare the high saturated colors for the figures attire. The high saturated green overpowers the figure and actually comes forward. Among the other things I have mentioned, try gradating the grass from a darker value (not shadow dark) in the foreground, to a lighter/cooler as it goes back. Yes, you need a complete shadow that goes out of the canvas ...this ties her to the boundaries of the frame and also anchors her and the ball to the ground...remember our VAA lesson on boundaries? Now, have you explored using the 2 value method on the figure and ball to achieve form? The bottom line: Concentrate more on your great niece. Try to integrate her into the scene by manipulating edges, color exchange, and form. BTW, your drawing is outstanding! ... you did a great job on the foreshortening of the lifted leg ..very impressive, my friend!! Just noticed this: here is an example where the 2 value thing would work good....The light value ball is in front of the light value sock ..to separate the ball and calf, use the 2 value statement on the sock ..now you have light (the ball), against light (the sock), and the ball comes forward!. Hope that helps Lori?