I like the dramatic feel that this piece has, but I'm assuming it's unfinished, right? I don't quite know what's happening in it either. What bug is eclipsing the sun (that is the sun, right?)? Also, I would watch your values. In some areas, everything looks like it's blending together. Part of that is coming from the textures in the sky and ground being kind of ambiguous. Ethan's hand kind of disappears into the sky. Also, I'm not quite sure how I feel about the use of lens flare here. It has a lot of potential, but it's not there yet.
I agree with Ryan - there's a lot of drama to this piece! I especially like the positioning of Madison's hands and how you brought part of her into focus and blurred things out. I think the lens flare effect could work in this piece if the other elements were brought to a more finished state. Right now it seems slapped on top of a work in progress. I can't tell what's happening exactly, or what is coming towards them (I'm guessing insect?). There's a lot of texture in the sky, but I'm not sure what it is trying to communicate. A little more refinement there and in the landscape would be helpful. I'd look at more reference for both of these elements. Also watch the anatomy on the figures. I feel like the perspective on Ethan is a little off.
This is a really nice composition. I know you've heard a lot about the rendering already, but one more thought in that vein. Brent Adams told me once that what makes a great film is the consistency of all of its elements. While I still don't understand the full meaning of what he was saying, I think part of it is all the elements of the piece should be pulling toward the same goal. I think the thought applies to paintings just as much. This painting has some great things going for it, but it's struggling to decide which aesthetic direction it wants to go. The rendering is wavering between whether it wants to be realistic or painterly or cartoony, and instead of confidently picking a spot on the spectrum, gets torn between the three.
The big thing, I think, is confidently making a decision. It may be right, it may be wrong, but if it's bold it will look intentional and feel right. Right now you have some great forms and gestures going on with the characters, but the lines are hesitant. The same form drawn decisively and with confidence, even if you're bluffing, will feel much more powerful.
I like the dramatic feel that this piece has, but I'm assuming it's unfinished, right? I don't quite know what's happening in it either. What bug is eclipsing the sun (that is the sun, right?)? Also, I would watch your values. In some areas, everything looks like it's blending together. Part of that is coming from the textures in the sky and ground being kind of ambiguous. Ethan's hand kind of disappears into the sky. Also, I'm not quite sure how I feel about the use of lens flare here. It has a lot of potential, but it's not there yet.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ryan - there's a lot of drama to this piece! I especially like the positioning of Madison's hands and how you brought part of her into focus and blurred things out. I think the lens flare effect could work in this piece if the other elements were brought to a more finished state. Right now it seems slapped on top of a work in progress. I can't tell what's happening exactly, or what is coming towards them (I'm guessing insect?). There's a lot of texture in the sky, but I'm not sure what it is trying to communicate. A little more refinement there and in the landscape would be helpful. I'd look at more reference for both of these elements. Also watch the anatomy on the figures. I feel like the perspective on Ethan is a little off.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really nice composition. I know you've heard a lot about the rendering already, but one more thought in that vein. Brent Adams told me once that what makes a great film is the consistency of all of its elements. While I still don't understand the full meaning of what he was saying, I think part of it is all the elements of the piece should be pulling toward the same goal. I think the thought applies to paintings just as much. This painting has some great things going for it, but it's struggling to decide which aesthetic direction it wants to go. The rendering is wavering between whether it wants to be realistic or painterly or cartoony, and instead of confidently picking a spot on the spectrum, gets torn between the three.
ReplyDeleteThe big thing, I think, is confidently making a decision. It may be right, it may be wrong, but if it's bold it will look intentional and feel right. Right now you have some great forms and gestures going on with the characters, but the lines are hesitant. The same form drawn decisively and with confidence, even if you're bluffing, will feel much more powerful.