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JOHN TURNER

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JOHN TURNER

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HI Alan, your comments welome as usual. Regards John Turner.

Alan Bickley

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A decent job done here John, well done! But… as you’ve asked for my comments, there are just a couple of small areas that could be improved… very easily I’m pleased to say. Trees… generally but not always, the upper sections where the trunks and branches get higher up, they tend to be in silhouette, so knock back some of the lighter portions… that’s a five minute job. Grass… it’s all one tone, vary it slightly, try lightening the top strip a touch, perhaps indicating sunlight… a dry flat hog brush dragged lightly across the surface will do the job nicely. Raw sienna or yellow ochre and white may work, but experiment with mixes. Finally, get rid of that patch of brown ‘path’ - it’s distracting the eye and doesn’t help the composition! Good job though generally John. Ps. The reflections of the trunks look as solid as the trees themselves… soften them down and break them up a bit, imagine ripples.

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by Alan Bickley

JOHN TURNER

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Many thanks Alan ,very useful. Regards John.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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Well, I'm glad the master commented - because I think he's got it bang to rights: it's the tonal similarity in the grass that troubled me, and that path: and that's exactly what Alan covered.  The trees - I'd like a little sharpness in those upper twigs, and perhaps a touch or two on the projecting branches, or some of them; doesn't need much.  That I think is what Alan had in mind when he spoke of silhouettes - different words, same meaning.  Reflections too (some of my least favourite things to do, but - I HAVE done it!  Wonderful when it works...) yes, they're a bit solid and more or less the same tone as the trees. But you got the best advice from Mr Bickley - all I'm doing is adding my two penn'orth... 

Alan Bickley

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Well between us we’ve covered most of the issues here Robert! I would, in future, like John to open up the discussion to all members in his opening headline - although I’m aware that this can open the floodgates and be inundated with conflicting advice. Anyway, one thing I didn’t mention which you’ve touched on is the upper branches… where are they? I’d get my rigger brush, or maybe a small round and pull out some of those upper branches, create more of a canopy perhaps!

JOHN TURNER

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Many thanks both, will open to all in any future postings. Regards John.

Alan Bickley

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Thanks John, it will be to your benefit I’m sure, I particularly value Robert’s expertise as well as a few more excellent oil painters on this forum.