Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Finishing Touches to "Encounter"--Before and After

My last post featured the latest painting in my River Series. I worked on the painting over months, and was anxious to get it out there on the internet for my followers and Facebook friends to give me their ideas about the painting. As always, I really appreciate the time people take to seriously look at the work, then critique the painting, telling me what works, and what might be changed. Sometimes I agree with another's opinion and sometimes I don't, but I always listen and let the idea gestate. As I spent time with the painting, I saw things I wanted to adjust and I went about correcting the things that bothered me.

The last couple of days I've put some energy into making the painting stronger. Here are my Before and After photos with a list of the adjustments I made.

Encounter
Before

Encounter, 30x22, Aquamedia
After

  • I neutralized/darkened the sandy/rocky beach, allowing it have more color harmony with the painting.
  • I tamed down the calligraphic whites, which I felt were too dominant. 
  • I raised the shoreline under the large heron and added a few gestural marks to imply water.
  • I darkened the upper legs of the small heron to push it back in importance.
What do you think? Is it improved?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I like the changes.

L.