Diagonal Poppies by Amanda Bates

It has worked well Amanda. As you know I would have gone upward a bit...though I am sure your clients will love it.. Poppies really are so rewarding . ( and daisies)

I like the bold colours of the blue and red. A well balanced composition, however, your poppies lack the delicate papery look that give the flower its appeal. The light source is coming from the left the poppies should be a little lighter then the deep to of the red on the right (the shadow area) of the flowers will give it more depth and throw the higher poppies out of the sky. Nice.

I tend to look at it more as a composition (design if you like) based on a poppy concept and not as a photorealistic interpretation. For this reason the technical issues about light source etc don't bother me and I like the composition as it stands with daisies balancing the taller poppies on the right - I'd leave it as it is - it's a beauty.

I'm with Michael, it's perfect as it is. Those poppies are positively dancing. Such a happy, lively painting!

This painting is certainly not intended to be photorealistic - thank you, Michael - but I am taking CA's comment as a challenge and - well, maybe the next poppy painting will be a little different :-)

It's a lively composition, Amanda, make no mistake in that. As, Michael, has said, its not meant to be photo - realistic, I agree. As artists we all see things differently. My post is my opinion, not a challenge, just an observation. As long as you, the artist and your client are happy that's all that matters. Happy Painting.

I like this composition, it has a lively feel with the strong colours and the flower heads above the horizon line look like they have caught the wind, giving a nice sense of motion.

Perhaps the papery look of the poppies - which I agree is a feature worth capturing - is obtainable with a brush, and painting in layers; whereas the knife will give an immediacy and vibrancy, but is perhaps incompatible with the more ethereal qualities. I don't really know, because I don't often work with a knife - t'is a thought I must explore for myself. As I've said elsewhere, I think this is the best composition of all you've tried: and I'd like to see the actual painting, because this is quite a size (imagine the cost of knife-painting it in one of the premium oil brands... eek...! But Georgian oils have done you very nicely, ta.

Well, short of you leaving your island and heading north 50 miles, the best I can do is a Flickr pic or two, Robert ... https://www.flickr.com/photos/zalamanda/sets/72157650313603136/ Many thanks to you for helping me select the composition.