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Drumbeg In the Highlands

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Katy Dean

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This is from a photo I took on holiday last year. Landscape not my thing and my first effort with oils. Probably a boring photo too, but I wonder where to go from here, it all looks very dull to me. Any feed back appreciated.

Alan Bickley

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Well it’s a lovely scene to paint Katy. Use your photo as a guide and don’t copy it, they usually lack any decent tonal range, which is what I’m seeing here in your painting. Lighten up your background and keep it on the blue side which you have in places. Think aerial perspective, darker towards the foreground. The tones need sorting out, but make these adjustments and we’ll talk about tonal values later, half close your eyes and everything is a similar tone, that’s not what we’re after and is why it’s looking so flat! It looks to me like you’ve rushed it, better to work in layers and take your time. I’ve got dozens of WIP features on this website which may help. However, on the positive side, it’s not a bad first attempt, so you’re making a good start in oil painting.

Katy Dean

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Thank you Alan for taking the time to comment, your absolutely right about rushing it, which I do know you can’t with oil. I’ll let it dry and try what you suggest.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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Yes, tones; lights and darks - you could pick this one up by darkening your darks, and appreciably lightening your lights - the sky is usually much lighter than we think it is, and whereas a photograph will show you bright blue (or a bad one will) the horizon colour is very rarely anywhere near bright blue, and especially not in Scotland.  A few shadows would help, too -  to break up the monotone element. This is your first oil - well, mine was, I'm sure, MUCH worse than this: happily, it no longer exists, unless someone's keeping it for blackmailing purposes.  My brother found one only yesterday, in our late mum's flat while tidying up her effects; it was a painting of....... our old air-raid shelter.  My ambitions were perhaps not very high in those days; or it might have been just a study piece: I hope it was.....

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by Robert Jones, NAPA

With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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And here it is - you see, there's always hope.   

Katy Dean

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Looks ok to me Robert!

Katy Dean

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Well, it all got a sticky mess so I’ve scrubbed the background and foreground back to the ground, put in a purple blue over the hills and will let it dry now. One lesson learnt! Then I will attempt to put some detail in for the village and hills. Thought I might put rocks in the foreground because although not in my photo I do remember scrambling over them.

Linda Drury

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Oh Katy, I know that feeling so well, I have done the same thing quite a few times but it seems to work, but I have found it sometimes leaves a better colour to work on. That's the advantage of working with oils any mistakes can be rectified. I think your background is all ready looking better than you original but i'm sure Alan and Robert will offer you good advice. 

Alan Bickley

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Hmm... well Katy I’m not sure how to guide you on this one, it’s gone a bit dull and lacks any tone. All I can suggest is if you post the photograph (flat on view), I’ll knock out a quick tonal or colour sketch which may help get you started on the right footing! I’m busy but will try and fit it in. Alternatively, go to plan B, wait for it to dry and have another go!

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by Alan Bickley

Katy Dean

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Thank you Alan, that’s very kind of you. I have done a bit more. Perhaps I should have chosen a more familiar subject to try out oils, but I do think I’ve learnt a bit about using them along the way.

Alan Bickley

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Well it’s a typical photograph, totally lacking in contrast! Not a great one to have worked from Katy, but as I said previously, use them as a reference point and do your own thing... I’ll have a look at it and see if I can sort out some tones and aerial perspective. It won’t be easy!

Katy Dean

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Thanks Alan, but I’ve had a thought! I’m going back to Drumbeg soon so I’ll shelve this and see if I can either get a better photo, or if it stops raining I’ll have a go plein air😲
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