Dorys - Great photo - where to start

maybe it looks different in real life, but the yellow doesn't seem to bright to me at all. With all the browns and greys and muted blues it adds a nice splash of colour.

I like the yellow of the second dory. I looked back at the original photo and noticed that the third one also was yellow.

I think the way you have the third one grayed down works much better than the original which was tending to pull the eye away from the first, more detailed one you want to focus on.

Looking good.

Judy

I think you might be able to make a figure work in your painting. I just played around a bit to see what it would look like. I hope you don't mind. The head is chopped off a bit and their might be a better placement.



The credit for the photo of the person is JoelDeluxe from Flickr

Here's the photo of the person if you want to use it as a starting point if you add a person.

If the person's intensity was closer to the subdued boats in the background, it might work, but as it is here, it draws my eye away from the main dory. I realize that this was just a sample, though.

Judy

I agree with both of you. My eye does get pulled directly to that figure, but it may work if they were subdued. And I love that everyone wants to help.

Virtual hug here

ps. Do I need to include the beer bottle? chuckle

Adlib!! Maybe she pulled afish out of the water by hand. Judy

Just an explanation of the photo she's actually cleaning the beach. Picking up garbage. I prefer wine myself but I think it might be a good idea to leave it out. I was actually hoping to find a fisherman in one of those yellow raincoats but I had no luck. Maybe if one of the figures is wearing something that echoes the color of the yellow boat it would add to the color harmony of the painting.

I will have to wait until next week to work on this. I would like the figure to be very indistinct.

Wow, this is beautiful! Love those dorys! I've painted quite of few of those yellow dories myself. That was a tough angle but you pulled it off expertly! Personally, I don't think it needs a figure. To me, it reads quiet and peaceful, the sort of place you'd go to think and be by yourself.

Thanks. I loved working on this one - fun to do the details.

[img]https://watersolubleoils.forumotion.com/[/img]OK. I love the details. Ropes, rocks, water, wood. But I know I have to actually work on the other two dorys. They are like housework and cooking to me.

Keep going - this is a winner!

It keeps getting better and better. Good luck with the two other dory's.
judy

housework and cooking! The boat you have done is just great!

The main boat and the jetty are a complete painting in themselves. Wonderful detail and they tell a story.

Jack

Wow! Everywhere I look something interesting to explore! I agree with Callie definitely a winner.

Thanks. Now, I just need to explore those darn other dorys. I should have known they would be trouble. They have no character compared to the first.

is your painting on stretched canvas or or canvas board?

Dory's is on gallery wrapped stretch canvas - with the thick sides. I am not sure of the name for that format

[img]https://watersolubleoils.forumotion.com/works-in-progress-f7/[/img]
Here is ons step further - I will post one later tonight

I can almost hear the water burbling against the boats. This is going to be brilliant.
Congrats
Jack

Wow the definition is amazing. It's such a joy to watch the way your painting evolves.

It's looking good. I feel much better about the middle dory now with the detail which is just enough.

Judy

Excellent!

OK. Here is the latest. You will notice that i have scrapped the boats on the beach and added some old wharf pilings. I may add ina small boat on the beach and some rocks, but the red just wasn't working. At least I wasn't able to make it work. Love to know your thoughts.

[img]https://watersolubleoils.forumotion.com/works-in-progress-f7/[/img]