Samos

In the photo of this scene, the water in the background is much darker and the foreground water is a very light value, which didn't work well, so I changed it. However, I'm not sure it works like this either - anyone have any suggestions?? I need to learn how to paint the sea better....!

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Comment by Jessica Futerman on May 20, 2014 at 1:40: Whoops - think I deleted a comment by mistake just now! Anyway, I tried to incorporate Michael's & Lori's excellent advice in this painting. I think it's a little better, but I think I'd better put it aside for now - can't seem to get it right! Thanks everyone for your ideas - comments & critiques are always valuable & appreciated!

Comment by Jessica Futerman on May 20, 2014 at 1:36

Comment by Michael J. Severin on May 19, 2014 at 14:14: Hi Jessica. Okay, I am looking at the reference photo. A few things: I suggest you paint the ocean like the reference shows. The emerald green between the darker horizon and the warm/light foreground water is missing in your painting, but is important. Also, refrain from putting any yellow in your distant mountains and trees ...they need to be grayer, cooler, and lighter in value. Try painting your distant background headlands more blue/purple and very light in value ..just a hair darker then your sky ..don't make it so gray .use some color ..that what the photo is showing. Okay, hope that helps.

Comment by Lori Ippolito on May 19, 2014 at 7:38: Hi Jess. You're off to a wonderful start here. I'm wondering about the direction of the ripples in the water..I think they might mimic the shoreline a bit more? In the painting most are coming toward the viewer ..if you redirect them towards the shore the water would look more realistic..also the edges at the beach/water are usually not as blue..try to lighten them and mess them up a little... Sand there will be a little darker because it's wet. These are off the top of my head thoughts, so please, if anyone with more experience sees it differently let Jess know:)

Comment by Laura Xu on May 19, 2014 at 7:06: Hi Jessica, I already like the painting in so many ways Jessica! I need to learn how to paint sea too. We are all learning together!

Comment by Jessica Futerman on May 19, 2014 at 6:05: Thanks Silvana! The mountains were the easy part - the sea was much more difficult!

Michael, I posted the photo I based the painting on & I'd appreciate your input very much. Before beginning the painting, I tried to work out the best composition/value structure with notan sketches. In the photo, the sea is much darker & the colours are richer in the far distance & in fact, I did paint it like that first & then wiped it out & changed it, as it seemed to be confusing the illusion of atmospheric perspective! Maybe the water should be warmer in the foreground?? It is such a big expanse of water, that I was trying to add some interest by gradations, & broken colour etc, but it doesn't look good!

Comment by Jessica Futerman on May 19, 2014 at 6:02

Comment by Michael J. Severin on May 19, 2014 at 3:20: Hi Jessica. Without having seen the reference photo, I am assuming that the foreground sea was lighter ..and probably warmer ...? Can you post the reference ....maybe I can help you with it?