Marin Afternoon

11x14

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Comment by Silvana M Albano on September 16, 2014 at 8:28: Very nice Laura!

Comment by Olivia O'Carra on September 16, 2014 at 8:23: Laura this is wonderful

Comment by Laura Xu on September 16, 2014 at 6:08: Have fun Stu, I am looking forward to see your version!

Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on September 16, 2014 at 5:29: I wouldn't bet on that, Laura. They are doing a lot of construction there right now to raise the path and create a new entrance through the breakwater into the marina, but You can still get over to where we were painting. I may go out there later this afternoon. I'll post what I paint on this site. Stu

Comment by Laura Xu on September 16, 2014 at 5:17: Stu, with this design, Michael has given me so much help to come out with this great composition. This is beautiful place to paint. I am sure you can do better than me as always, Stu!

Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on September 16, 2014 at 4:56: Ditto on Michael's critique, except that I could not have written it that articulately. I was there with Laura when she took the photograph and although I have a bunch of photographs of the same location that day, it makes me want to go out and paint it plein air to see if I can get anything close to this good a painting. Bravo, Laura! Frame this sucker! Stu

Comment by Laura Xu on September 16, 2014 at 3:32: Wow, Can not be happier than read through all wonderful comments, great encouragement from all of you my dear artist friends. Thank you so much Michael, Maria, Stu, Jessica, Ann, Aurella, Ruby!

Michael, special thank you for all your knowledgeable comments and advice!

Comment by Michael J. Severin on September 16, 2014 at 2:44: Nice job Laura. The painting has warmth and luminosity ..you can really feel the warm light of the afternoon sun as it slams into the houses!!! I see you have kept your strongest contrasts at the focal point ...edges, color, value, intensity ..all say "I am the star of this performance"..everything is keyed to that ..and all of your other elements support your focal point ..again well done!! You have successfully invited us to enjoy what drew you to paint this scene ..that rich, beautiful warm light on the houses. And I have not even mentioned your beautiful composition!!!! ....there is quite a lot of good stuff going on there! For those interested. The composition is loosely based on a "cruciform" with an "S" influence. The "cruciform" is more "felt" then seen, and the focal point sits at the intersection of the vertical and horizontal axis of the "cruciform" ..the horizontal being the horizon. On a painting such as this, where there is a lack of a natural vertical influence, one must produce a vertical influence. Laura has accomplished that with her light reflections and slight value shift in the foreground water. The red chimney in the back also adds to this vertical. The "S" influence brings us into the painting in a nice slow meandering way that enables us to slow down and enjoy the foreground a little ..just enough to keep our interest. The little patch of land keeps us from exiting at the left. The broken down fence on the right adds interest, adds balance, is a "stop", and breaks what would have been a monotonous line and echos the posts on the other side....a LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY for those little unassuming fence posts. Notice the "Papa, Mama, Baby" of the three land shapes in the foreground. Also notice that the land shape across the water, is larger then any of the land shapes in the foreground ..you might think: Papa, Mama, and the 3 kids. Great painting Laura!!! :))))