Nantucket Sound

Pastel on UART 9 x 12

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Comment by Lori Ippolito on August 29, 2013 at 0:47: I can't thank you guys enough for getting on this so quickly!! I really appreciate your input! I've cropped the photo..actually did so last night and am very pleased that you have noted the same/similar issue!!..That group of trees on the the left are actually on the neighbors property & I didn't draw them in properly (the sunset photo has them in without a clear indication of the land & unfortunaely, I was a slave to that part of what I saw..out they go!!)

One issue..It really does look like the sunset in my drawing..should be sunrise technically...is there a difference? I know that may sound ridiculous & I htink not, but thought I'd ask!!)

Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on August 28, 2013 at 22:25: Lori, I am later than the others in getting back to you. I certainly agree with Michael and Kim on you sky being excellent and on making the setting sun your focal point; make your sun very light with the surrounding sky intensely red- orange and a very well defined reflection, very much as in your photo reference; keep the edges as crisp as possible and as much contrast as you can. As Michael sats, your trees are backlit, so you need your reds sand oranges to infuse around the edges and for the foliage of the trees to remain quite dark and silhouetted. This is a lovely painting and your friends will treasure it. Since the next workshop is supposed to be on sunsets (per Richard's blog), you certainly have a great head start on the rest of us; after you see Richard's challenge, you may want to tag this one for the workshop. Stu

Comment by Kim Hayes on August 28, 2013 at 21:20: Lori.......... I like the interpretation..You have put your own stamp on it.

Picking up from Micheal...Sometimes (and in my case most times) paintings need redesigning to achieve balance and good composition.. I like the overall effect you have created, and perhaps add that the horizon and that above it and below it matter. Your sky is a great focal point, therefore try and make the foreground less in detail ( base of the trees to the right hand side),It still must have the same intensity so that you can achieve depth.

To pull the eye back to the right side and achieve that balance just add a little red to the orange clouds..

.... Hope this helps.

PS I think the angled shape to the left is fine as it pulls the eye back.

Comment by Michael J. Severin on August 28, 2013 at 18:31: Just a few things Lori. Number one, really pop that setting sun in ..make it really bright (your lightest light). that will be your focal point ...reflect it onto the water and highlight some of the ground foliage so we are taken back to the focal point. Your sky and clouds look very good!! .....just put the sun in and move it over to the left just a bit. Okay, not I like your 2 foreground trees, but I do not understand what is happening over there on the left with the other 2 trees? ...Are they on another piece of land?. I would take that lump on the left out, and bring those trees down to the foreground (behind the 2 front trees) and plant them. The trees need to be warmer ..use more oranges and reds into them. They are backlit, so be sure to put light on around the edge ...that will give you luminosity. As the setting suns rays hit the tree, the light is refracted around it ..thus creating a soft glow and making the tree warm. One more thing, get rid of those concave shapes there in the foreground and design something that gives the painting balance .....another tree perhaps??? ...right now the painting is lacking balance. Anyway, that is what I see Lori. Very nice painting ...don't mess with the sky except for putting the bright sun in.

Comment by Lori Ippolito on August 28, 2013 at 16:21: I could use some advice on this..I combined a few photos & winged it for the light...not loving the hill colors & wondering how I can make this better..I want to gift it to my hosts at MV & would like it to be the best it can be (for me)!!! I didn't want to make the foreground too black -- as in the first photo. Help!!!! :)

Here are the source photos: