A FORUM OF DISCUSSION, CRITIQUE AND SHARING WITH CANADIAN ARTIST BRIAN SIMONS. THE ARTIST'S WORK CAN BE SEEN AT HIS OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.briansimons.com
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
This is a 16x20" acrylic. There are things I really like about it, but there seems to be something or things not working... just not sure what. I don't know--maybe I've just fussed with it too much.
The thing that least grabs me is the brushstrokes. The comp is good, great feel to the figures, good sense of light. But the execution feels a bit weak and has a sense of hesitance. Which I find a shame, because so much is working. I also find the chroma on the sky intense. Hope this helps Elliot. Julie
The shadows are off and and the color too solid. No center of interest and a little to busy. Perspective and detail are off on some of the people and the color harmony could be better. You have a lot of color going on here.
You see this opens a great dialogue. I would have to disagree Ralph, the shawdows are fine.I'm not really interested in perspective and detail, look fine to me.As far as colour harmony,well you do suggest alot of local colour.I have found it a real art/difficult to move beyond that as a new painter. For me as I already mentioned there isn't enough "body" in your brushwork, and are you appling the paint quite thinly? When you said "I've just fussed with it too much" I think that's what I feel. A lack of commitment. I think your figures are great, and have been in all your work. So there you go, everyone is a critic!!Thanks Elliot Julie
Hi Elliot! there's some "narration" going on here as in "this is corn, this is lettuce" etc. etc., rather than a few gutsy brushstrokes to hint at those things, maybe this is where you fussed about??? I would have been happier with it if you laid the paint down as paint. I'd suggest try moving further away from "narration" and get more into the paint. I do like the excitement of the colors and composition here. Try "one-stroke" painting where each stroke is laid down once and left alone?....Brian
I think the figure on the far left dosen't have the looseness of the others and it may throw things off a bit. Also if you added more light to the light streams in the lower right it would create a bit more drama with the dark shadows etc. I think this one is about light and shadow...maybe. So big contrasts. Overall I think it is a very interesting painting and quite a challenging one as well! Good job.
The thing that least grabs me is the brushstrokes. The comp is good, great feel to the figures, good sense of light. But the execution feels a bit weak and has a sense of hesitance. Which I find a shame, because so much is working. I also find the chroma on the sky intense. Hope this helps Elliot. Julie
ReplyDeleteThe shadows are off and and the color too solid. No center of interest and a little to busy. Perspective and detail are off on some of the people and the color harmony could be better. You have a lot of color going on here.
ReplyDeleteYou see this opens a great dialogue. I would have to disagree Ralph, the shawdows are fine.I'm not really interested in perspective and detail, look fine to me.As far as colour harmony,well you do suggest alot of local colour.I have found it a real art/difficult to move beyond that as a new painter. For me as I already mentioned there isn't enough "body" in your brushwork, and are you appling the paint quite thinly? When you said "I've just fussed with it too much" I think that's what I feel. A lack of commitment. I think your figures are great, and have been in all your work. So there you go, everyone is a critic!!Thanks Elliot
ReplyDeleteJulie
Hi Elliot! there's some "narration" going on here as in "this is corn, this is lettuce" etc. etc., rather than a few gutsy brushstrokes to hint at those things, maybe this is where you fussed about??? I would have been happier with it if you laid the paint down as paint. I'd suggest try moving further away from "narration" and get more into the paint. I do like the excitement of the colors and composition here. Try "one-stroke" painting where each stroke is laid down once and left alone?....Brian
ReplyDeleteGreat comments. Thanks to everyone.
ReplyDeleteI think the figure on the far left dosen't have the looseness of the others and it may throw things off a bit. Also if you added more light to the light streams in the lower right it would create a bit more drama with the dark shadows etc. I think this one is about light and shadow...maybe. So big contrasts.
ReplyDeleteOverall I think it is a very interesting painting and quite a challenging one as well! Good job.
Jeffrey