Dorys - Great photo - where to start

I think you should include three boats or leave out the boat on the right but then you will have to recompose but composition will make or break a painting and you have too much talent to waste time on a poorly composed piece. I still think the picture has great possibilities.

The third boat doesn't pull me out of the picture at all. You need it for the composition - without it the picture is much less interesting. I think emphasising your focal point and toning down the third boat will be all you need to do. No need for any major changes at all.

I think that once I put all the light reflections on the water behind the third dory, it won't stand out as much.

There is also a rope in the original photo that links the second and third dory together that I might be able to manipulate to assist somehow.

This sounds like a group project. I like that!

I think taking out the third dory out would make the two others feel overly centered. The fact that it is half off the canvas makes me feel that it is not important but needs to be there, and I concentrate on the two more detailed ones.

I reminds me of the difficult I mentioned in this month's challenge where I always feel the need to have a border around objects such as flowers. I'm actually going to let the flowers run off the canvas when I get a chance to do it.

Judy

Here are two pictures - The second i had corrected the drawing on the middle dory thanks to the excellent skills of my husband. I like color, not drawing.

It is looking good. I live your water and reflections so far.

Judy

Nice work on the boats - and the foreground relections work very well.

Wow, your painting is looking great!

Feel free to give any advise on changes

I keep returning to your post on 7 Feb. The whole emphasis was upon the first boat which is the focal point. But more important to me was how it looked almost like a Dutch old master painting. Also I wouldn't put too much detail on the landing stage.
Jack

OOPS. Last night I worked on the dock and the large boat - in detail. I will post a photo later.

More work done on boat and dock.

Dale, Looking great! The form looks wonderful and the water looks great! The boat is looking fantastic! You have such a wonderful eye for detail which shows in that first boat on our left.

I worked on this for quite some time tonight and made some progress on the beach area and better reflections. I think I am subconciously avoiding the two other boats.

The progress is fantastic. The water is great you have captured the underwater stones etc., beautifully. I know I am still bucking the trend but I still would avoid the other two boats and would content myself with the reflections of the shore. Also, and I know this sounds revolutionary, if it is painted on panel rather than stretched canvas I would cut the panel to give a square or even a portrait dimension.
Best wishes
Jack

it's coming along very nicely!

I love how you've done the water, really enjoying watching this come along

I love how you have done the dock and large boat. I'm curious as to how you do the other two. They look great with minimal detail so they are not taking away from the main one, but obviously they do need a little more or they would look unfinished.
Judy

Lots of fun working on the detail work. i may drape a fishing net over the yellow boat just to cut the bright yellow

Progress is great. Take care though cos your moving from fact to fiction. Fishing net could provide you some difficulties, a tarpaulin might be more appropriate.
Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Jack

Oh Wow your painting is looking fantastic! The yellow doesn't look too bright to me but that might be a matter of it not translating well in the photo. I know whichever way you decide to go it's going to be gorgeous.

Dale,

You continue to make this more and more life-like. It's beautiful.

Judy

I want to put in some figures (I know - fiction) and or/ some gulls. Any thoughts if I should or where?

I should sign everyone's name at the bottom - you have been such great contributors

I think I'd skip the gulls and figures. I love the abandoned atmosphere of this.
If you really feel a need to add something else - maybe a scruffy mutt getting a drink at the water's edge.

Careful about figures. The usual is to put a carrot figure doing nothing. Around boats people are always working. You have a good painting do take care.
Jack