colour study - path through woods

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Comment by Jane Scott on January 15, 2012 at 4:06

Thanks for commenting, Dirk.  That is something I am trying to improve in my compositions.

Whew, Denise, you have given me a lot to think about.  Thanks so much for such in depth and thoughtful observations. Backwards first .. yes the tree on the top left is too saturated.. I will definitely tone it down as it pulls away from where I want the eye to go.  You might be right about the front area but I hate to lose that differentiation for fear of losing the circular movement after the S curve.  Absolutely, some more cool in the background purple to punch out the warmer lights.  Guess I need to get back to work!

Comment by Denise Maxwell on January 14, 2012 at 19:04

Hello Jane, I agree with Dirk love the abstract quality. I would like to see some areas to be a bit more cool to help punch up the filtered light on the upper hillside or maybe just a touch of blue above those bright color spots a little sky showing thru as contrast. The eye goes there but maybe you can pull together that eye path to your focal area by joining up some of those light areas on the path crisscrossing as you've done up to that area. Another suggest I have is take the detail out of the hill side on the right, give it a nice rich dark warm color or a dark alizarin crimson at the bottom and blend on up into the trunk, leaving out the details. This will also lead the eye up and give an area for the eye to rest. Also one last thing hope you don't mind this, I think you are really close to having the color sing here but I'm finding the green on the left too saturated and again it takes from the spotlighted area. In Richards Workshop2 he gave us a great painting 'China Mans Bluff' and challenge to show the spotlight effect, if you are able to see this check that out, I'd have you look at his painting primarily the spotlight effect just glows.

Comment by Dirk Rampling on January 14, 2012 at 16:34

Really love the abstract quality.