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 Woman of India

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Dale
judyfilarecki
Janet
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Janet
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Janet


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PostSubject: Woman of India   Woman of India EmptyTue Nov 17, 2009 8:52 am

This is a painting that I'm planing on working on some more. I'm thinking it's too busy and that piece of cloth is not working. The colors are all over the map. Any advice would be appreciated. I won't be working on this for a while so plenty of time to critique it. It doesn't matter to me your level of skill. All suggestions are appreciated. Smile

Woman of India 3008038458_d9190d7698_m
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judyfilarecki
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PostSubject: Re: Woman of India   Woman of India EmptyTue Nov 17, 2009 12:39 pm

I agree that the cloth in the background just doesn't work. It makes it feel like a clothes line is hung in the middle of her trek through the woods. Take the cloth out and extend the tree into that space and ground it minimally, and I think it will give the feel that you want.

Judy
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Janet
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PostSubject: Re: Woman of India   Woman of India EmptyTue Nov 17, 2009 2:21 pm

Thank you Judy! I appreciate your help! Smile
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Dale

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PostSubject: Light contrast   Woman of India EmptyTue Nov 17, 2009 5:41 pm

What time of the day is it? How strong was the light?
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Janet
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PostSubject: Re: Woman of India   Woman of India EmptyTue Nov 17, 2009 6:24 pm

hayday77, I found the reference. It was cropped some to fit to canvas.

Oops I forgot the credit. Credit for the reference photo is Steve Evans.

Woman of India 12601994_fe123d63f4
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Dale

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PostSubject: Re: Woman of India   Woman of India EmptyTue Nov 17, 2009 7:24 pm

I can see why you wanted to do this picture. Have fun

Dale
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Janet
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PostSubject: Re: Woman of India   Woman of India EmptyTue Nov 17, 2009 7:53 pm

Thank you Dale! I think I'll have to start from scratch on this one. Your rite about the time of day and intesity of the light. I did this one over a year ago and lightened the reference to the point that I ruined the contrast. This was my abuse of white stage as well. Thus the chalky look. I'll treat this one as a study and make all the suggested changes but start as a new painting. Just too many things are off. The tilt of the head, the bend in the body etc. etc. Smile
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acadianartist




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PostSubject: Re: Woman of India   Woman of India EmptyMon Nov 23, 2009 1:16 pm

Hi Janet,

I agree with you - you might be better off starting this one from scratch than trying to fix the light, the tilt of the head, etc.. Too bad, it has some nice aspects. In fact, I think it has merit as it is. The angle of the body is off, but so was it in many great artists' paintings. It reminds me of painters like Cézanne and the fauvist movement. In other words, if you are looking for realism, then you're right, there are too many things to fix here. But if you are trying to convey a mood, then you're bang on. I feel this woman's misery!!!
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Janet
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PostSubject: Re: Woman of India   Woman of India EmptyMon Nov 23, 2009 4:29 pm

Hi Chantal! Thank you for your kind words and help! I don't think I'm a realist more of an impressionist. I understand what your saying so I'll have to think about exactly what route to take. Either redo the whole painting or edit some of the areas that deflect from the center of interest. I think it's lacking unity in the colors as well. Woman of India Icon_smile
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mugridgee




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PostSubject: Re: Woman of India   Woman of India EmptyTue Nov 24, 2009 7:15 am

Hi,

it reminds a lot of Gaugin's style. I think you could get rid of the cloth completely - it looks out of place there. Have a lighter textured background there instead - such as foliage. Do you ever use the 'under-painting' technique before adding layers of colour? I find it really helps me to get tonal qualities correct. In a painting like this where you have cloth, woven basket, skin and quite a strong light source you could plan out your lights and darks first and add layers of glazes over the top.

PS I have some new paintings on Flickr if you'd like to take a look - http://www.flickr.com/photos/emilymugridge/ - these were done in this way with a tonal under layer and washes of colour on top. Happy painting!

Emily (the sunflower girl) flower
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Janet
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PostSubject: Re: Woman of India   Woman of India EmptyTue Nov 24, 2009 8:22 am

Hi Emily! Welcome to the forum! The cloth does need to go. I have worked with an underpainting but just started recently. I think you're rite an underpainting would have helped immensely in this one. If I redo it I'll go with an uderpainting first. If not I'll be probably be using glazes in the areas that have that chalky look. Thank you for the advice and help! I looked at your Flickr account and your paintings are great! I love your style! Woman of India Icon_smile
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dbclemons




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PostSubject: Re: Woman of India   Woman of India EmptyTue Nov 24, 2009 11:55 am

I don't necessarily think the cloth needs to go, but it should be clear why it's there. I think the overall problem I have with the painting is figuring out what's going on. The way it's cropped, I can't tell if she's carrying sticks or if those are trees behind her. In the photo it's a bit easier to read that there are trees behind the basket of sticks and what looks like a fence beside her. Those little details are important to describe the space she's in.
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Janet
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PostSubject: Re: Woman of India   Woman of India EmptyTue Nov 24, 2009 2:25 pm

Thank you David for your help! I see what you mean regarding the crop. I'm thinking of taking out that lame attempt at a tree out. No matter what I do I know I'll need to go back fix the sticks in the basket. Smile
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acadianartist




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PostSubject: Re: Woman of India   Woman of India EmptyTue Nov 24, 2009 3:06 pm

I think that the angle of the trees and the cloth are what bother me the most. They make the whole painting look like it's at a 45 degree angle. Without the cloth, you might be better off, but then you'd still have to figure out what to put there in its place. I know that the trees are actually at this angle in the photo, but one or two straight trunks would straighten the whole thing out.
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Janet
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PostSubject: Re: Woman of India   Woman of India EmptyTue Nov 24, 2009 8:34 pm

Chantal, I see what your saying regarding the tree. I think I might remove that tree completely. Adding a few straight trunks would be a good option as well. Thank you for your help! Smile
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Janet
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PostSubject: Re: Woman of India   Woman of India EmptyWed Dec 02, 2009 11:58 am

Where do you think it would be logical to have the horizon line on this? Smile
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PostSubject: Re: Woman of India   Woman of India EmptyMon Dec 14, 2009 12:30 am

Good advice there, Emily Woman of India Icon_wink

Janet - in the photo it looks like the horizon is fairly low (somewhere between her wrist and elbow height).

Have you done any more on this? How's it going?
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PostSubject: Re: Woman of India   Woman of India EmptyMon Dec 14, 2009 8:13 am

Hi Callie, Thank you for the help on the horizon. I haven't touched it yet but I will get to it. I'm concentrating on doing swatches rite now and that will take a lot of time to complete. Smile
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