Sand Dunes

I seem to have a fixation on sea and beaches at the moment - probably because I need a dose of sunshine!
Comments and critiques welcome.
It's in oil on 16x12 in, 40x30 cm canvas.

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Comment by Michael J. Severin on January 6, 2014 at 5:12: Nice work Michael ...looks very good!!! ....It looks like you warmed the painting up a bit and added more contrasts ..and you have obviously given more thought to your dune grasses!! ..excellent. I also think you have a better balance of warms and cools in this version. :)

Comment by Michael Lang on January 6, 2014 at 5:01: Thanks, Michael, for your new comments. I agree a sail could add a secondary focal point (the dunes being the primary) as well as tying together the horizontal masses of sky and sea.

In the meantime I did some more work on the painting - at that stage I didn't want to get rid of the dunes the two foreground on the left just yet. May do so later.

Comment by Michael J. Severin on January 6, 2014 at 3:56: Hi Michael, I personally think it looks great! .....a more uncluttered composition that has movement. What are your thoughts? BTW ....one quick stroke of a sail out there on the horizon (right 1/3 line) would give interest and balance to that long, straight horizon line? ...it can't be drawn in or detailed ...just a very quick, crisp stroke of your knife or brush (like you don't care) to produce a thin line (the sail). That will give balance and move the eye across the horizon and then back down to the corner bush and then back up to the top bush ..and so on.

Comment by Michael Lang on January 5, 2014 at 5:40: Michael and Thomas, I've tried what you suggested using software, in a fairly rudimentary way. What do you think?

Comment by Michael Lang on January 5, 2014 at 5:22: Thomas, many thanks for your comment and critique. Yes it is hard to see one's work with fresh eyes.

Comment by Thomas wezwick on January 3, 2014 at 3:41: Yup....Great brush strokes....makes the painting look effortless..I read Michaels comment about the bush, at the bottom of the painting....He's right on..still a beautiful job....It is so difficult to see things in our own work..No?

Comment by Michael Lang on January 2, 2014 at 11:00: Michael, Colleen, Mario, Julia, Silvana, Jessica, thank you all so much - I appreciate your comments very much.

Michael, thank you too for your critique! you makes some very interesting points. I shall try out your suggestions in Photoshop. My aim in the composition was to provide a way into the painting through the the two foliages areas on the left.

Comment by Jessica Futerman on January 2, 2014 at 9:13: Wonderful brushwork & colour

Comment by Silvana M Albano on January 2, 2014 at 8:21: Sending you some sunny and very warm days from the south Michael! Been at the beach upto the 30th... Escaped when people and people and more people arrived!!!!! It's the beginning of the season in this hemisphere...