Storm through the Farmlands

This is the 4th Road in my "Journey" series --- I am not happy with it, seems flat and pretend....I have been stuggling with it for some time and I am almost ready to not use it or keep it -- any help you can give I would love and consider using it, Thank you, Dana

A thought on it's name "A Storm through the Farmlands" Hey thats a little how I am feeling with the picture - haha

Hi Dana,

I moved this for you. The reason it feels flat is that all the color values are the same so there is no feeling of distance. This is true in the sky and land. Lighten the values as you go toward the horizon, and I'm sure you will see a change.

Judy

Thank you Judy -- but how do I get that big cloud to have a shadow then over the farmlands? Also - my profile disapeared, I tried to redo it but can't seem to get it to stay. Always thankyou for your imput and help, Dana

If your painting is dry, make a thin glaze of zinc oxide which is semi transparent as opposed to titanium white. Lightly glaze over the distant parts of the painting and gradually move forward with less glaze. I would start at the horizon and work forward both in the sky and land at the same time. It will lighten the value of the colors you all ready have down, not really change them. If you don't like it just wipe it off as long as the painting is dry. I'll see if Janet can figure out the profile problem. She's better at that than I am.

Judy

Yes, it is dry it has been sitting in my work room for quite a while, wondering how to help it -- thank you I will give that a try, Dana

As Judy said, a zinc glaze will lighten the values, but it will still leave the shadows under the clouds. I would also make the big dark cloud just a bit lighter. As it is it dominates the picture too much. Just do some experimenting. And don't forget to post the changes for us in this thread. We'd love to see how it turns out.

Hi Dana
I was going to make the same comment about values and I like the advice you have been given. Another comment I would make concerns the uniformity of the bushes or trees bordering the road. That one in the bottom right if made much larger would emphasise nearness and add dimension.
But you've definitely got a work which makes a statement.

Jack

I as well think that the dark cloud in the sky dominates too much at the moment and should be lightened. It's a very lovely scene. I'll take a look at your profile.

Dana, everything looks ok with your profile. Are you having trouble with adding an avatar (The pic under the username) Or is it the signature that appears at the bottom of the posts?

Kopo, I missed the fact t hat the tree in the right corner is much too small. Dana, I would take his advise and enlarge it so it doesn't feel like a shrub, but rather a tree.
Judy

I'm finding the landscape colors are very bright considering the dark cloud would be blocking out a lot of sunlight. And there's no shadow across the road?
I think more greys rather than the dark blue would help the clouds and soften the rain in the distance. (Google aerial perspective).
Here's a link to some storm cloud photos:

http://www.stormeffects.com/2003_chase_images.htm

Notice how the shadow darkens the ground and mixes into the distant hills:

http://www.stormeffects.com/images/52603%20RatonUpdrft1.jpg

So I agree with everyone about the values. But would like to see some edges softened as well to give more distance to the scene. If you look through the photos in the above link, you'll see some really dramatic skies, those clouds cover miles and miles of scenery. (Good tip about the tree, Jack) Work on your values to give this more depth/distance.

I've been enjoying your other road paintings. I'm looking forward to seeing what you can do with this one!

Thank you -- I am always ready to improve and learn -- thank you everyone for your imput. I will check out the sites and see those storm clouds....and concider making changes, per your all's imput. Dana

Dana, check your message box. The link is in the horizontal menu across the top.

Judy

I am not liking this painting -- don't we all have paintings which we don't like and give up on....I have layered so much paint that I am not sure if it can handle anymore. I may just start another one and not so busy a picture....my eyes are having a difficult time settling or finding a place to rest, there's just too much going on and not very good....I will probably put this one up as a good learning lesson and hope I learned much so I don't make the same mistakes....please feel free to comment and give pointers, as I can never stop learning -- I don't want to be too thick headed to not learn, I want to move forward to learn and be a better painter....You guys are great and as always thank you for your help, Dana as you can tell I have such mixed emotions....looking forward to what you have to say....

I just saw down the drain -- you can move The Storm through the Farmlands there and please feel free to comment I always look forward to the critiques...I have much to learn. thank you, Dana

This certainly does not belong down the drain. It's fantastic! I love the changes you made! Good going!

You are so kind....It will be on the back burner for a while and not sure what I will work on next, any ideas?


I have been thinking about doing a rain picture with all the reflections an lights in the rain....just need to find one to do?
Thank you again for your kind words, Dana

I don't think it is ready for down the drain. You've definitely improved the depth in the painting. The bigger tree on the right feels more in proportion. now if you would make the trees on the left side of the road from larger to smaller as they get futher away, I think it would help you follow the road into the storm. Set it aside for a while and then think about what I suggested. Judy

Thank you Judy -- that is just what I am going to do, put it on the back burner for not sure how long? Thank you for your imput and the direction I need to go with it....Dana

You're welcome.

Judy

This is a painting worth persevering with. I think you are very near. Two points I would make.
a) As it is in the distance you would not be able to tell the direction of weather, or rainfall, so the purple fall should be downward not angled, and possibly faded a bit more. b) That triangular green field should not be so exact. Otherwise I like it.
Best wishes
Jack

Thank you for your encouragement and for your advice, I just love this forum, so much talent and input on how to help and to be a better painter.

I have it on the back burner for now, as I was and am a little frustrated with it. Thank you for rooting me toward continually to do better and not giving up, although I hope you will tell me when you think it’s not worth working on a painting anymore.


Sincerely,

I've been in the depths and actually burned several canvases. But here's a tip which I have used successfully before. Get two bits of cardboard each cut into the shape of an 'L'. Then create a picture window which you can enlarge or make smaller as you wish. Slide the 'window' over the canvas or board and it's quite astonishing to find a section of the painting really looking good. If it's on stretched canvas cut that bit out and stick it on a board. If it's on canvas panel just cut it down to size.
Good luck
Jack

Jack -- that's a great idea, also it will help to see what needs to be done over or changed in some way.....I will make one just to keep on hand, hopefully I will not need to use it often.

I wish you wouldn't give up on this one Dana. I was trying to figure out what was bothering me when I tried blocking off the sky for the land and it hit me - (By the way, the sky is amazing) It looks like two diferent paintings. The sky colours should influence the land colours.

PLease keep at it. I think it is worth it.