Colourful streets of Menorca

Menorca is full of interesting, colourful streets lit up by the Spanish sun. A challenge for me is to know how loosely to paint architectural features - when does it look messy & childish as opposed to painterly?!

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Comment by Silvana M Albano on July 15, 2013 at 8:26: I'll post the work in progress at night. Perhaps sbd can help me out!!!!

Comment by Jessica Futerman on July 15, 2013 at 8:11: Thank you Laura for your very nice comments!

Comment by Jessica Futerman on July 15, 2013 at 8:10: Thanks very much Silvana! Those streets of Menorca were fascinating to explore. I can imagine 9 de julio is a very big challenge - good for you for attempting to do it! You could always switch to an easier scene - plenty of beautiful streets in Buenos Aires!

Comment by Jessica Futerman on July 15, 2013 at 8:04: No worries Michael, as the Aussies say! I'm always interested in good critiques & ready to try something to improve my work! Glad to get your ideas & I don't mind taking a chance on trying something different to what I've done; it's a good way to learn. Will see how it comes out!

Comment by Laura Xu on July 15, 2013 at 7:42: Jessica, this is wonderful street painting. The background buildings are just fabulous!

Comment by Silvana M Albano on July 15, 2013 at 4:09: What a challenge Jessica! I like your painting a lot! Wanting to go to Menorca....!!! At least we would have no problems with the language!

I have followed your advice.... I am trying to paint the '9 de julio'... having a rough time... Perspective was difficult... and now the colours. Struggling with shadows and some details on those million buildings!

Very good job on that shaded wall on the far bulding. I just want to get into your picture to see what I can find beyond!

Michael, I will for sure use your input on cools and darks... you have just unstuck me from where I was... hope to finish this before the 23rd!

Comment by Michael J. Severin on July 15, 2013 at 3:05: Hey Jessica, You know, if you like the warm colors, keep them!!!! There is nothing that says it cannot be the way you have it!!! Change it only if you think you will like it. I am soooo afraid that my suggestions will mess someones painting up ....that is my worst fear!!!

Comment by Jessica Futerman on July 15, 2013 at 2:50: Thanks a lot for the input & nice comments, Michael! Though I like those warm colours, I guess they are not right for the shady side of the street! I will try mixing up some cooler versions of warm colours, as you suggest & see what happens.... Thanks for the ideas! Will post version #2.....meanwhile removed the workshop tags so it doesn't get confusing later....

Comment by Michael J. Severin on July 15, 2013 at 1:23: Jessica, one more thing. When I mention shadow family of colors as being cool and dark, that does not mean just blue. Cool and dark can also be the warm colors, but .....cooler!! ...which would actually be colored grays. You might experiment by mixing 2 or 3 piles of darks at various value shifts, and then mixing your yellows, oranges, and reds into that. Too lighten anything, add blue lightened with white. Those piles of dark can be mixed by: UB, AC, and Yellow ..3 primaries.

Comment by Michael J. Severin on July 15, 2013 at 1:09: Hi Jessica, I love the way you handled the sky and the distant building ..that relationship is wonderful!! You handled the windows in the sunlit wall very, very, well!!! Now the right hand foreground building: too light and too warm. Being in the shadow, it should belong to your shadow family of colors ...Cool and dark. ..like your cast shadow. Mix some dark cool dark reds, oranges, blues, and violets and paint that wall with a palette knife to get some great texture!! Then hint at there being doors and windows by taking darker tones and with just one stroke, put them in wet into wet ..then they will BECOME part of the wall. Put those colors next to each other (warm/cool). When you do that, it will make the background building sing with light!! It will also better relate with your cast cool shadow. That is it!!!! ..very simple fix .. please do not think about touching the background ...it looks great!!!!