VictoriArt aka LoLs Leisure

The Portugese Windmill

I think very good generally, had it not have been a particular place, the composition would have been improved by opening up the distance so that your eye was drawn eventually to the horizon. If you wanted a painting that was not representative of a particular place then I would go for that option.

However I think you more than likely do want this just as it is and therefore have no option but to stay with it.

I Love the rocks with the detailing, all of the foreground looks good and convincing, the hedges at the horizon are good but I think need toning down a bit, (pale them down and add a bit of blue/mauve) to push them back into the distance a bit more, as they need separating from the rocks on the left, and would give more overall depth to the picture.

That is a beautiful path running up to the Mill, the plants to the right could just do with a bit more variation in colour.

The sky bothers me mostly, looks very strong in colour but your skys are different to ours and I leave that to your judgement.

Very good indeed overall and just some minor adjustments required.

Ok, your on your way now!

 

Thank you, my Poppet. I need guidance.

On the Algarve Cove picture ... yes, I am well aware that I lost the horizon ... I lose a lot these days as my focus seems to have diminished ... not that I was ever good in the first place! I shall work on that.

Having said that, I'll say something about the current wall art? T'other half had to get out the string with blue chalk on it and straighten my horizon as he said my sea wa running into the orchard next door? If anyone gets a letter from me, it will be sloping downward to the right .. something to do with my astigmatism.

Onto the windmill .. what a beautiful place. Wouldn't you just love to visit such a place? It is real, more northerly, Moinho do Sao Felix in Laundos ... the windmill of St Felix. I have changed it slightly to suit my painting.

Funny you say about the sky, DAG, t'other half said that but he never likes my skies anyway ... but I'm not really an artist, just a painter.

Thank you so much for your input ... honestly, you cannot imagine how much it is appreciated. I shall work on both again over the weekend.

xx

PS I paint from pictures as well.

[ 03. January 2007, 09:38 PM: Message edited by: Lady of Leisure ]

 

Having taken on board some of the advice given above, I have re-worked the windmill. More specifically I changed the sky colour and opened the picture up to the left of the windmill.



I'm pleased with the result and a very big thank you DAG for your directions.

 

Well done! I am pleased with it too!

 

Well, my friends, I have completely lost the plot again on this one ....



... so I've packed my paints away and will re-visit here in a few weeks and hopefully get some more inspiration. At this rate it will be another 30 years before I finish it!

 

That's painting for you, I told you every painting was agony, what you put in, is what you get out!

Sea area is generally looking better, would like to see some spray over the nearby rocks, and some foam swirling round at the nearest bit of water. Not enough diminishing going on into the distance.

The rocks are still too much the same that go out to the horizon on both sides. It still looks far to symmetrical overall to me.

The main thing is to get rid of that sun effect, it is far to ambitious that size, you would have to reflect it off the water.

Make the sky gradually get lighter and brighter as it goes down towards the horizon. I would make it lighter than the sea so that you don't lose the horizon.

Just do a smallish simple sun effect and therefore only have a narrow reflection to do on the water, which could come right down the picture.

Best thing right now, is start something else and come back to it with renewed energy!

Don't give up!

 

Thanks, DAG, some good points there. I will have to lighten up the rocks I think as well.

It's funny the actual painting is not that bright or orangey. When I upload the picture it seems to be about the right colour and then when I post it here, it's screaming at me!

I shan't be painting probably for a couple of weeks as my sister will be here and we'll be out and about a lot. It will give me some breathing space as well. I do, however, have my next subject chosen ... the Australian outback.

Again, many thanks, you are an inspiration.

 

hi LoL, love the rocks and the sea and agree with dag i have a problem with the sun, definately bring it in and paint reflection on the sea just slightly and i would probably darken the sea slightly at the back to give depth of the ocean.looking good you will get there.well done so far

 

Thanks, rosa. Sometimes I just can get the perspective or depth so it's good when someone points me in the right direction.

I'm working on it now.

 

there is just little bits to do but on the whole your picture is very nice sometimes you can play with a picture to much and spoil it alltogether.

 

Rosa, this was it last night. Today I've lighted the sky, blued the sea, changed the sunset and have put the rocks back in to the front left.



I'm really fed up with it now ... I soon won't be able to lift it for the number of coats of paint on it! :D

 

you have put too much green to the left above the rocks and i wouldnt of used green i would of used a dark blue and lined it between the sky and sea. will get a bit of paper and show you obviously with me having no colour its going to be a bit difficult but i will show you were to put the darker colour.

 

The green is gone today, rosa, that was yesterday about 5pm when I threw the brushes in ... the sea looks like the Antarctic now!

 

keep the blue the way it is and see the darker line that is were you put the darker blue to give the illusion of distance of the water.
then put your sunset in the middle and bring the colour down into the water