Down by the riverside

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Hang on Studio Wall
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Acrylic on 20 x 16 canvas panel. I've been trying to get more depth into my paintings. Your comments would be much appreciated. Cheers, Steve
It's a super painting Steve, I have commented in the gallery. Your water and rocks look great but maybe the bridge is a little too detailed - mind you I'm no professional and still learning myself. Happy painting.
I agree with Margaret regarding the rocks and water, but the bridge looks too new for an old stone bridge. Rather than too detailed, I think that it is too regular in colour and line, to be convincing. Hope this helps.
Just to add to this - I don't think the bridge is a problem, I do think this is an advance for you: all you need to do is keep on painting. As to how modern or recent it looks - well, depending on where they are, and what they're made of, bridges can look modern even if they're not. What matters is how your painting looks - and it looks fine to me. http://www.isleofwightlandscapes.net http://www.wightpaint.blogspot.co.uk
It's a good picture, although it does lack depth. The viewer can see every stone in the bridge, and this means it seems nearer to the viewer. It's better to reduce the detail of the objects in the middle and background. You are using acrylics, which dries rapidly, and all the edges are clear and sharp. This is fine for the foreground, but not the rest of the picture. Painting soft edges isn't easy in acrylics. You could use a medium which slows the drying time and then soften the edges with a brush. Another way is to paint on a coarse canvas - the uneven texture means the paint doesn't get in the hollows, so you get the impression of soft edges. The water in the foreground is very well done.
I don't think the picture lacks depth, by the way, but there we are: perhaps we see things differently. http://www.isleofwightlandscapes.net http://www.wightpaint.blogspot.co.uk
This might give you an idea of how another painter tackled a bridge, and this one is seen rather closer-to than yours. He (artist not known) was using oil paint rather than acrylic, which lends itself to less precise detail. It's all there, just not so sharply defined. This one has trees at either side as well, and you'll notice they obscure the line of the bridge - this effect will depend on the time of year and density of the foliage, of course. http://www.isleofwightlandscapes.net http://www.wightpaint.blogspot.co.uk
Thank you all for both your kind comments and valued advice. I appreciate them both very much. Yes Syd, I will try to paint fewer bricks & roof tiles as you have advised, but I don't really know where the right place is to stop. Well I suppose I will need to get a few wrong before I get it right. Thanks again. Cheers, Steve.
Hi, ur painting is good. You have your own individual style tht i can see in your painting.. The only thing i felt is missing is the variation of tones.. When it comes to front the tones should be more vibrent and fresh and there is lack of movement in water.. Imagine when water passes by stones it can't be tht calm..so once u add these bits your bridge ll go behind the scene.. ..i am a professional painter and teacher done my Masters degree in fine arts..I felt these point r missing hope tht ll be a help..
Welcome sanamasim. Do you have any pics on the gallery ?
Agree here with sanamasin, he is absolutely right. I do like your composition, but feel that it needs more contrast in tones....for instance, darker under the bridge arch sides as a small example. Also in the shadowed side of the foreground rocks. This would help to give the impact which it needs. I would also darken the foreground tree which reaches into the composition, to contrast that with the bridge. In all paintings, particularly of this type, you need to consider the tonal aspect. Tonal contrast is all important. Keep painting and posting, Grampy, you are doing fine!