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Comment by Richard Michael Taylor on January 11, 2014 at 1:27

I think you are right.  Thanks so much the most helpful advice.

Happy Painting!

Comment by Michael J. Severin on January 10, 2014 at 19:07

You know Richard, I would just leave it alone and paint a new one!!!   Use this for reference and concentrate on values and edges for the new one! ...You would need to remove the varnish ..so why not just take that time and energy and  do another one?

Comment by Richard Michael Taylor on January 10, 2014 at 15:07

Michael, 

Thanks for the very insightful comments.  This painting is about 10 years old and varnished.  Have you ever tried to work over a varnished painting?  Can it be done successfully?

Comment by Jon Main on January 10, 2014 at 7:17

Interesting comments - really thought provoking! - it's already a nice painting!

Comment by Michael J. Severin on January 10, 2014 at 4:24

Good question Michael.  1.  I would soften EVERY  edge of that second barn. 2.  Lighten and cool the darks of that barn ..Your darkest dark should be just under the eave of the Rock City barn.  3.  I would lighten the value of the second barn and cool it more ...especially where it goes "behind" the first barn ...that little technique will give the illusion that it is going behind the first barn.  4. Really blur that line of the second roof as it goes behind the edge of the first barn.  5.  I would give more depth to the grass ..it also must be cooled and less green as it recedes.  6.  I would paint the roof of the Rock City barn a little more to the right ..that will give you a more overlapping.  As it is now, there is a "kiss" going on with the edge point of the R.C. barn and the back barn.  The non overlapping at that point, makes the two barns appear as one barn.  After all that is done, you might need to give more light and intensity to the wall of your R.C. Barn ...I don't know until I see the changes to the other barn.  The main culprit is the value, temp. and edge relationships between the two barns.  BTW, unless that is a mowed lawn, or the sheep have eaten the grass down, give some variation to the edge where the grass meets the barns.  I hope I answered your question Richard?

Comment by Richard Michael Taylor on January 10, 2014 at 1:37

Thanks,

Yes, there are a few issues with the apparent perspective and depth of field.  The red barn was a little turned compared to the rear barn.  Thus you didn't see the roof on the rear one since it was straight on to the plane of the camera.  Adding a little roof would make it read better.  Also I have never been happy with the two barns appearing to be so close together.  I should have pushed them apart better.  One of the problems with painting from a photo. 

What would you have done to visually separate the barns?  Your comments are appreciated.

Comment by Michael J. Severin on January 9, 2014 at 17:44

Wow!   Great painting Richard.  I like the way you showed us a little side of the barn ...maybe show us a little of the roof on that peak also? ...I think you might have just overlooked that?  I just love your warm sky!!! ..it ties the building and sky together and is a nice compliment to the blue/violet mountain...nice job.