Thank you for your report!
We have received your report and it is currently under investigation by a forum moderator.
wip. Small church. Any comments and critique welcome, thanks.
Welcome to the forum.
Here you can discuss all things art with like-minded artists, join regular painting challenges, ask questions, buy and sell art materials and much more.
Make sure you sign in or register to join the discussions.
Hang on Studio Wall
This is a Studio member-only feature!
Join our Studio membership and save your favourite Painters Online content, from gallery artwork to step-by-step guides, to your own online mood boards. Create your go-to place for inspiration and learning. Plus, members can also enjoy a range of exciting features including monthly art videos and a digital magazine library.
If you are already a Studio member, simply login to your account.
Not a Studio member? Why not try our free 30-day trial - no commitment, no credit card required
Message
Posted
I'm posting this in work-in-progress rather than the critique section, as it is incomplete. However I would really appreciate any thoughts on it, be it successes or improvement possibilities.
My hope is that I will be dealing with this subject matter quite often. And, if no-one minds, I won't say a lot more about my intentions for this one, or my own thoughts on how I wish to progress, as I would like to just leave this one open to reactions that the painting gains on it's own merit.
Thank you in advance. Any comments are welcome, so please don't worry about sugar coating, as I take them all in the spirit of being helpful to my knowledge and development. Thanks again folks.
PS actual size is approx A4
Posted
I don't usually like commenting on WIP...but you did ask. Is the far window on the Main body of the church building a wee bit large? Perspective wise I woukd have thought they woukd all be a bit smaller... also those grave stones are very neat and tidy. I'd shove a few over and add a it of foliage. .
Posted
The far window is surely a doorway, not a window - and we all know that Sylvia's a vandal, pushing over gravestones is just the sort of thing she'd do..... No, I don't really have any criticisms to offer - it looks to me like a well-kept churchyard; I like the white walls of the church, the main chancel window, I see what Helen means about the cliff-edge, but only because she pointed it out; it wouldn't have bothered me otherwise; actually, it doesn't bother me anyway. I like clean lines, and this has them.
Posted
Lovely light and shade you have captured on the church. I don’t have any criticisms, other than the sky to the left of the building just about the gravestones makes it feel like it is situated on a cliff edge.Thanks Helen. Yes the area to the left needs something. I didn't want to put the boundary wall in but maybe I'll have some low-key muted 'vegetation' to give distance and prevent the cliff edge look. Thank you
Posted
... Is the far window on the Main body of the church building a wee bit large? .... also those grave stones are very neat and tidy. I'd shove a few over and add a it of foliage. .If you mean the third along, I think perhaps I have gone slightly off with perspective now that I look at it, and if you mean the fourth along, it is the doorway...which I intend to 'brighten' to make more of. The gravestones in this yard are mainly all well presented, with this particular view only having two off the vertical in reality....and I have removed some, with artistic license, in order to help the composition towards the door. I'm tempted, when I do these, to exaggerate the character of the yards, with more fallen over etc, but wondered on this occasion whether that would be too distracting from my main focus because they take up the foreground. Not sure. I do like the idea of foliage. Thank you Sylvia.
Edited
by Gerry Mellor
Posted
The perspective looks fine Gerry… if I have any observations generally, the colours are a bit weak, the shadow side of the church and the cast shadows could also be a lot stronger…
Those gravestones need to be darker also, and don’t forget that they also cast a shadow! I can’t see any…
Hence , it all seems a bit flat tonally but an easy fix!
The great John Piper was a master at conveying old buildings and churches, well worth a look.
Edited
by Alan Bickley
Posted
I can only agree with everyone else here Gerry. As you have quite strong sunlight coming from the right, there should definitely be shadows from the gravestones. Overall it’s a lovely painting of a fine and tidy church and its surroundings. I also like the way you’ve handled the sky and trees so far.
Posted
Hello Gerry,
I love pen and wash style work so will be interested to see where you go with this. The one thing that caught my eye is the tower. It looks like it's toppling backwards and I think that's down to the perspective. The castellations and the brickwork lines are just a bit too 'angled down' on where they should be. If you draw some imaginary lines along the side of the church they converge well off to the right, but if you do the same with the tower top it seems to come down before where the church sides converge. Hope this helps.
Malcolm
Edited
by Malcolm Davies GRA