Crystal Cove

Add a Comment

Comment by Jan Oxendale on December 26, 2012 at 15:31

Your painting really caught my eye.  The colors blend together so well and there is correct proportion on the figures.  Love the composition.  I agree with Michael, you can get rid of the birds and the girl on the right.  I think they distract from the main focus.

Comment by Ningning Li on December 25, 2012 at 2:45

Thank you Stuart for your technical information. When you change, be careful not dirt the painting. I did it and very sad. Will waiting to see your retouched one soon.

Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on December 24, 2012 at 23:08

Li, I paint with Gamblin alkyd (FastMatte) oils for my underpainting and with Gamblin oils plus Galkyd Lite medium. Each layer dries in under 24 hours. I also laid everything out in acrylics first. So I don't always paint this fast. You and Jimmy come visit some time. I am going to make some modifications based on Micael's critique and will repost. Merry Christmas. Stu

Comment by Ningning Li on December 24, 2012 at 8:40

Stuart, I showed this painting to my husband, Jimmy. He said that you are incredable. He wants to meet you someday. I was laughing.  Apart from other good stuffs, I enjoyed the water reflection and texture  behind those figurers very much. So good!!!!  I also learned something from Michael's suggestions about this work. He knows.  2days a painting like this, is another surprise for me. Jimmy said that you are a "Monster". Merry Christmas!

Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on December 24, 2012 at 7:12

Thanks, Michael.   I did move the figures a little, but not enough; I probably should have put one of the figures behind the others and even overlapped them.   This was a 2 day "quickie" painting from some photos I took at Crystal Cove, and the fixes you suggest are pretty easy to do.  I took too much time with my left brain and not enough with my right brain.  Thanks for you complimentary comparisons with Sargent and Frank Webb.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to you.   Stu

Comment by Michael J. Severin on December 24, 2012 at 7:02

Great job Stuart!! .... reminds me of a beach scene painted by Sargent!! ... "Oyster Gatherers of Cancali" and "Snow Fields", by Frank Webb ... your in good company, my friend!!  One thought Stu ... maybe watch the spacing between the figures, they are all the same ..rules can be bent or broken, but in this case, It does not help this beautiful painting.  Also, the three little figures in the distant water (also equally spaced) , the figure on the right and the birds ...in my opinion, they are not needed.... you have told the story with the main figures....You do not need to say much more!  Anyway, just my thoughts and suggestions Stu.

Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on December 24, 2012 at 3:26

Thanks Ngaire. Stu

Comment by Ngaire Lincoln on December 23, 2012 at 21:44

Lovely. Like your reflections! :)

Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on December 23, 2012 at 16:07

Thanks Hazel; it took me awhile to find the right photo reference for this challenge. My only organization of my thousands of digital images is by the date downloaded to my computer; but this is what I was looking for--I wanted the figures to be the main focal point. Stu

Comment by Hazel Persson on December 23, 2012 at 15:48

Wow!!! This is a beaut! I was beginning to think you weren't putting one up this time.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page