Ailsa Craig from Woodland Bay, Girvan

I particularly like the lead in with the little channel of water. Would have liked to see more aerial perspective on the rocks on the left as I feel they are a fraction too strong.

For your first attempt you should be very pleased with this. Your sketching practice shows. Your waves are impressive. I agree with Ianthe about more texture on the rocks on the left, but apply only sparingly and perhaps more depth on the big rock ie slightly more dark on the shadows, but not too much as it will draw it closer, which it is not! These are only suggestions as I don't claim to be an expert!

Thanks a lot for taking the time to look & comment - very much appreciated

Ianthe Thanks for the advice about the LHS rocks. Just a little fiddle with the jpg image (I use the GIMP free software), shows that some de-saturation definitely improves and strenghtens the compostion. Pity you can't do it to the painting itself!!

Hi Bill, first the positive, love the overall effect, as initially it made me want to look further into your posting. On reading your request a couple of small points. 1. The base line of the distant rock is almost the same as the horizon giving an effect that the rock must be a very large island, but then this is countered by the detail, colour and texture indicating that it is nearer. 2. Think I'm right in saying that the waves would be breaking from the same direction. 3. The stone nearest the foreground doesn't seam to be connected, maybe the incoming water washing in and around it, would have given it purpose. Coming back to the positive, the overall effect and balance is excellent. Would certainly appreciate reciprocating positive critic on my work, if you ever have the time. Look forward to seeing more of your work. Regards

Peter - thanks very much for that. I now think that the 'problem' with the rocks on the left stems from me relying too much on a photograph I took & not enough from my personal observation. The rocks are in fact much closer than they look, a sort of 'headland' from the bay I was standing in - but you're spot on that they don't look like this as I've painted them. Certainly, lightening & de-saturating them, in the jpg of the painting, makes a big improvement & a more convincing aerial perspective. The waves are pretty well as they were at the time - I only made very slight changes here. I'm interested in your comment re the nearest stone. The beach and shallow sea were actually quite 'busy' with various sizes of stone, and I wanted to simplify but achieve balance. I believe that you're right - & I might have tried incorporating it into the small channel coming in from the lower left in my prelim sketches (my wife never liked it!). Not sure if I'm qualified to comment on your work as a rank beginner, but I'll certainly take a look. Cheers

Bill ..lots of good advice here. People are very kind. Yes i could do the same. Do you want to paint in a photographic manner? Or as I saw on the forum do you want to put soul into your paintings? GO and paint in front of your subject....DO IT. Use large brushes and much bigger paper, stop worrying....... Enjoy...oh go and see as many really good exhibitions as you can. Ps ... Try other mediums, charcoal, pastel ,oil...its one big wonderful world..

I like it! Seriously, I think you're very brave to invite criticism and to tackle breaking waves, gentle final ripples and (my own bete noire) rocks and pebbles. Perhaps the nearly-breaking waves are a bit too dark and maybe a vertical element, like one or two more foreground rocks, would help to break up the horizontal compositon. Technically, though, this is very good and - more importantly - I think you've achieved your aim to convey the serene mood of the scene. I'd like to be there right now! Best wishes.

Thank you all for taking the time to look & the trouble to respond. I really appreciate it. Sylvia - what can I say? After that, how can I not go & try to just do it! Thanks again Bill

Bill........really looking forward to your next painting.

I echo Roberts admiration of your painting skills after such a short time, you obviously have quite some talent / aptitude for painting. If you could join an art group and paint more regularly. I'm sure you will continue to progress.