Orange Pekoe

The silver teapot is great Chito. Is it the sugar pot that needs strengthening? The reflections on the teapot seem just right. It is noticeably the strongest feature though. I keep looking at it and it seems to be the surrounding items that need to match it's strength not the tea pot itself, do you think?

Sorry I can't help......! But I do like the sponteneity of this, the way you draw with your brush. Lovely pigment mixes.It appeals to me.

This is an interesting still life - all silver and muted pinks, which go together very well. The only thing I would say is that the teapot is very strong in the composition and could welll have benefited from having some lost edges somewhere to connect it more to the surrounding objects. You could have lost the edge under the spout of the teapot where the cloth is of similar tone. You have nice lost edges between the apples and between some of the flowers, which works very well. Then the found edge of the spout in front of the apples would have maximum impact. I am rubbish at still life, so I admire your ability to produce one of this quality.

Some interesting advice there; actually, though, I like this as it is, with one exception - the teapot is just right; silver is a soft metal, and returns soft reflections - if it does any more than that, you've polished it too much! The exception is as Jean says, the sugar bowl - it pales into some insignificance alongside the pot, and I think could do with some stronger definition. I'm not a bit bothered by the blooms and back-runs; they aid the painterly effect, to use a word I try hard to avoid; I take it this was a very smooth paper? It reminds me of some experiments on cartridge, which turned out a whole lot less well than yours.

Good morning everyone, Thank you for all your inspiring comments. The sugar bowl is actually white porcelain , in fact I thought it should have been lighter, but it does pale in comparison to the teapot. Thea, I guess since it's my first silver I was too focused on it. I will remember your advice on my next one. Robert, it's a Strathmore paper, but for some reason everything was just floating on top. Well, as for the blooms, they say if you do it more than twice it's intentional. That's my excuse :-) Robert, I've been meaning to ask, Who is Daniel? Have a great day.

Chito, it is delightful, and I think the individual objects are all in perfect keeping with one another. I personally would leave as is. Your colour harmony is great. I could look at and enjoy this for a long time.

I think you have done a lovely job, so what would you have done with a good quality paper?!!!!

Hi Chito. This waterclour is lovely as Ruth says. I hate it when artists invite comments to 'advise' as sometimes it can read as negative criticism, which is never intended by any of us, I'm sure. This is a lovely loose watercolour and I don't think darkening the colours on the sugar bowl is needed perhaps just a little darker in the negative space between the flowers and the sugar bowl on the sugar bowl side softening it into the area (if you know what I mean). I just think that will throw the whiteness of the sugar bowl forward and bring it more into focus and as strong as the teapot. It is also true what you and Lorraine said about papers. I once did a painting on one paper and it didn't absorb the colours at all and the result was disastrous, which goes to show, it pays for us to experiment with different ones. This is a great work Chito. please don't think I am being critical. It was only intended to hel. I know I have benefitted from critiques and helpful comments on my work on this website from other artists.

Jean, this is what I like about this site. As artist we tend to have blinders when it comes to our works. I always welcome input, advice and constructive criticism. I know exactly what you mean about that area. I'm a little hesitant as the pigment are just on top of this paper and has a tendency to turn muddy. Yes, the contrast would bring out the sugar bowl. At the back of this paper is a disaster that already happened. I thought if I wash it I could get rid of the sizing, guess I was wrong. From now on Arches and Saunders only, Cheers :-)

Daniel of lion's den fame; Dare to be a Daniel; Dare to stand alone; Dare to have a purpose firm; dare to make it known. Here endeth the First Lesson..... Perhaps a bit too Church of England .....

I think you have got this beautifully. The teapot is definately silver.

Thanks you Carole. Robert, I was thinking of an artist named Daniel. Thanks for the info.