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Pushing the values
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Message
Posted
With this one, I'm aiming to really push the values, play with colour in the shadows, and keep the strongest value contrasts to the focal area.
It's a bit of an experiment, and this is the first stage progress. It's thus far not turning out as I imagined, but I'm seeing this as a learning curve.
Just thought I'd post progress to share that learning. I'll be back on it in a week so will post more progress after that.
Any comments are welcomed as always. Thanks folks.
Posted
A very nice composition Gerry. The contrast brings you straight to the vocal point without a doubt. The confusing thing for me is the dark area under the arch in the ground area. I say this because, I'm not sure if these are steps or if it should be a flat transition through the arch from the courtyard. I think they are easy fixes in both cases. If steps, you can use a firm flat brush, wet it, take excess water off so the brush is not dripping. Then, with one clean swipe, indicate a line to hint at a step. Clean brush and repeat the process, keeping the brush clean at all times. Even very dark pigments can be removed with a bit of patience. On the other hand, if it should be a flat transition through the arch, well, it's a similar process. Think where the light is hitting the arch. The shadow will be lighter coming through and darker as it approaches the courtyard. You could take some pigment out here and lengthen the walls slightly. I think it is great what you are doing. Learning by experimenting is so valuable.
Posted
I completely see Denise's point - I think you've gone in with your darkest dark a bit too soon: it's in danger of setting the tone for the rest of the painting in which you'll constantly be adjusting tones and potentially getting darker and darker: I'd follow her advice - I think it would make your progress much less complicated. It's a lovely, inky colour - but at the bottom of the arch, whether those are steps or not, it's got too near to black, and too soon.
I agree with her other points about your composition, too - it works: I quite see what you're trying to achieve, but I think you can better push those contrasts and colours by working over the whole picture at once and not committing to powerful darks in such a big lump too soon; I hope that makes some sense ... basically, it's very hard to judge the depth of colour or tone unless you have a good idea of the colours and tones in those parts of a painting you've yet to develop: we strive for a balance ..... and now and then, we achieve it!
Posted
It’s about getting the tonal balance right, and this isn’t quite there yet.
I’m fine with the strong tone under the arch, which is unlikely to be steps, not under an arch!
If the source of light is overhead, the whole underside of the arch could be one tone. If for example, the light source was coming from the upper left, then areas of the arch would indeed be lighter in one area, and probably more interesting!
That aside, if you go in at number 10 on the tonal scale (range being 0 - 10), which this is under the arch, I’d like to see this balanced with some strong tones elsewhere, it does look a bit isolated at the moment, but it isn’t finished.
One obvious thing would be to exploit that foreground shadow from the building, making that really dark, tonally almost as dark as the underside of the arch, and in fact the side of the building itself.
That will anchor the whole thing and start to look three-dimensional.
I’m confident that I could pull this all together into a cohesive painting… continue with it and let’s see what you can do.
A good exercise is to have a go at this using say 3 or 4 tones from the tonal scale - perhaps selecting 0, 5, 7 and 9.
0 being the white paper, 9 being your darkest tone. Or any combination, three tones work well also.
Edited
by Alan Bickley
Posted
Thank you Denise, Robert and Alan.
All very valid points, that have given me food for thought.
It is certainly no where near complete, as this is the first pass. There will be lots to try to balance, and I think I went too soon on the archway dark as I thought to myself should I try to achieve values on the first 'try' rather than achieve values with glazes. All part of the learning curve. I will do more in several days, and post progress. Thank you once again for your input, I appreciate it.
[Same time, same place, next week :-) ]
(P.S. the area through the arch is level)
This post has been removed as it violates our forum rules and guidelines.
This post has been removed as it violates our forum rules and guidelines.
Started this one again, as there were a number of aspects to the first attempt I wasnt happy with....progressed nicely here on the second attempt, and I've just got some touching up here and there to do.
