I did quite a few paintings this summer with sea gulls and sea turtles, during the Gulf oil spill. It has been awhile since I've looked at them, and now with fresh eyes, I see that the gull above needed more shading on the underside. I like the shadows under the turtle and the folds on his neck. This is just a piece of the whole, but the composition was still bad overall, which is a shame because I really love how the turtle turned out. Composition is really something that shouldn't be overlooked. (pencil and watercolor)
This one has better shadows on the gull, but I think the turtle's shell looks a little flat. It could use some highlights in there. You can also tell that I spent a lot more time on the turtle, and then just threw in the background. I'm pretty lazy like that! ;D Oh, and the tail of the turtle really does hit the edge of the page like that. Another composition mistake. I'm really learning some things this morning, aren't I? (sepia and black micron 01, watercolor)
I love the turtle on this one! He looks sad. He has depth. The gull again doesn't have enough form. (but of course, that is easily fixed!) And, he's right smack in the middle of this page. Anyone know any good books that deal with composition? It should probably be a picture book since I rarely read the words to any of my art books. *Sorry, laughing at myself here.* Do you know how many art instruction books that I have that I've only flipped through, looking at the pictures? One day, I should sit down and start to really tackle them. That famous 'one day'! (sepia and black micron 01, watercolor)It is interesting to go back to your old work and look at things with a fresh, analytical eye. No, I don't have a problem with my inner critic. Inner critics have a purpose and as long as it isn't telling me to give up because I'll never be good enough, then I think it is working in my favor. When I point out mistakes, or things I struggle with, it is because I am learning from those situations. Inner critics can be your friend, if you let them. I am at peace with mine.
When I was 18 years old I learned about composition from a teacher at the Vrije Academie ( http://www.vrijeacademie.org/homepage-english )
ReplyDeleteWe made circles and other forms on paper, and moved them around. And we draw those forms on different places, and look at them.
Are these turtles drawn from live? I would love to see turtles this big in the wild. In the Amsterdam Zoo there are some very big ones and when it is very warm they are outside. I love them, how they move slowly.
Although it's a compositional 'rule' not to put things smack bang in the middle of the page, it's a rule that has been broken over and over very successfully. The trick is to divide your surface into 9 equal thirds and try to get your points of interest into those squares, or where lines cross. Roughly dividing your last piece this way I can see the eyes of the gull are around the top horizontal line and the head of the turtle is crossed by the bottom line- so success! And analysis aside it pleased my eyes.
ReplyDeleteThough I have to agree it is clear you favoured the turtle - but like you say that is easily resolved.
Maybe we should get t-shirts printed with slogans like -'Your inner Critics is really your friend' or Befriend your inner critic'. They get so much bad press but really they have so much to offer - it's just their communication skills which need a little refining :-)
Raena, you're SO amazing! Just in case you didn't know. Or don't remember. Really, you are. Just sayin'.
ReplyDeleteSuper awesome turtles! And YAY for sepia! <3
Wow, your paintings are truly beautiful. My favorite is the first one. Only you would be able to spot out inconsistencies.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous work.
My favourite is the third image. I think the composition is strong and I like your painting on the turtle!
ReplyDeleteLove turtles and I think my favourite is the one on top, but so is the one on the bottom (they are all nice)... For the composition book, Im not sure about those, but I found books about illustrating has good points for that subject in them (and most of them have good pictures : )
ReplyDeleteI'm a visual learner too... I have lots of art instruction books... great pictures. I especially like step by step pictures... words, well sometimes I read a bit of it... but like you not so much, when I retire is when I'm planning to read, and straighten up the studio too LOL
ReplyDeleteOh and i LOVE your turtles all of them... if you made prints and framed the 3 together, I guarantee you'd sell them.
Hi Raena,
ReplyDeleteI love these paintings and would find it hard to choose a favorite.
thanks,
xoxo
inner critics...yes, I was just talking to my daughter today about this very concept.....
ReplyDeletelet our own judgment be our friend....let it help us to make our work better....so it's funny that you should post exactly this...
I'm going to get her and show her your post right now!
thanks!
ciao bella
and by the way....all three are adorable...I love them!
creative carmelina
i also looked at the turtle, especially the first one, and felt life...
ReplyDeletethe composition and coloring are wonderful...
congratulations...
It was well worth the wait...they all pull on the heart string and make me realize we have to protect the earth from stupidity!
ReplyDeleteThese are all nice. Not having had any art education, I think they're perfect...
ReplyDeleteHi Raena, The wonderful thing is you can always re-do the composition. I find the freshness of these pieces most appealing. I think the turtles and gulls are done superbly.
ReplyDeleteIMHO the first turtle painting is considerably better than two and three because the colours and markings are interesting, and the painting is done well. There is also nothing wrong with it's composition as it passes the 'two thirds' rule perfectly. The gull looks fine.
ReplyDeleteIn two and three, turtle looks very dark and heavy and composition lacking.
Oops! That's me in very plain speaking mode, sorry Raena...
Outstanding drawings Raena! And 5 posts??? Wow =) I wish I could still do that... the new work is draining me, and I am still getting use to the schedule(and all the toys I am buying for myself and my wife...teeheehee) I know I know I should be drawing and sketching... I'll get back to it when I am ready...and I should be ready soon.
ReplyDeleteI like the turtle's face in the first and last. I bought 'Mastering Composition' by Ian Roberts and have found it easy to follow (lots of pictures!) and very informative.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I especially love the first one with its gorgeous colors. Turtles are wonderful subjects, with their fabulous graphic patterns, but they're also quite difficult to paint!
ReplyDeleteYou're very productive, that's great ^^!
So glad that you posted them!
ReplyDeleteI like each of them. The background less than the turtle because of laziness? I suffer from that too but really I think that is partly how an artist's style becomes his/her style. The turtle really stands out this way. I don't think the gull is centered either. He may be in the center from left to right but he's above center top to bottom and since he is light like the background, he doesn't dominate the picture so it still works. For every rule there's a reason to do it differently. Goodness, if we all followed all the rules there wouldn't be much life in the arts.
ReplyDeleteI like them all, for their freshness and the message they convey. The turtles look so dignified and I like that they are supporting the gulls. I also think the backgrounds work just fine. You really don't want the same emphasis everywhere. I second the recommendation for the Ian Roberts book.
ReplyDeleteWell I'm a little late on this one, but it doesn't matter because you stopped posting!! Ha! :)
ReplyDeleteI think these are great! I love how dark your darks are. So many folks have washed out colors, and you are not afraid of darks - this really adds depth I think. The turtles are excellent!! (Maybe I should stick a turtle under the orchestra - that would confuse everyone!)
Finally - I know the rule is don't put your subject in the center - but I think it works here. Very well. I don't know why, but I suspect it is because of the baby turtle. Your eye is first drawn to the left of the empty space between the two turtles (the right side of the large turtle) and that is at the 1/3 mark! It may also help that the turtle is looking that way. (Yep, this is how I actually analyze things, go figure.) And thanks for your note on the blog award!
I'm loving these turtles. I'd love to see a super close up of the turtle features.
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful forms. Alone they all make great pieces. The only thing I can say that really bothers me about your comps is that they just don't look finished. WIPs. Otheriwse very fine beginnings if you wanted to work on them or play with them to see what builds. I love the turtles. Awesome!
ReplyDeleteWow they look really great! To me they tell a story, a fun one cause I m wondering how the gull ended up at the back of the turtle :)
ReplyDelete