Bobbie's Angel by debs jones

This is lovely and gentle, Debs. I don't think it is always necessary to put in every detail, even of faces, as it is better to hint at things in such an ethereal painting than spell it out in a more forceful way (if you get my drift). The image has a timelessness about it, which is very calming. Lovely work.

Oh Debs - you're going to hate me for this especially after asking us to be gentle in our comments but I had great trouble with this one. When I clicked onto it all I could see was the face of an old - shall we say person. Let me explain - the mouth is under the elbow, the nose is the arm, and the eyes are either side of the wrist. Couldn't work out Thea's comment about it being calming and it took some time for the penny to drop and for me to see it for what it is - a charming picture of Bobbies angel. Just shows the weird way my mind works as you will appreciate if you have following the Forum recently. Might I suggest you just lighten the shadows under the elbow either side of the 'teeth' or better still do away the ;teeth' altogether and I think my weird interpretation well be thwarted - hope we've not fallen out....!

Thanks very much Thea for such a nice comment, I was trying for an ethereal effect, I like the photo so much I think I will have another go especially since Michael thought it was the face of an old witch lol !!!

Hi Michael, well I've always been fascinated by those Edwardian pictures, were if you look closely you get two for the price of one [ an old woman a young woman depending on your viewpoint], well now I seem to have painted one of my very own! lol Certainly not fallen out with you, I asked for your input and I think you have made some valid points so thanks for your comment! Don't have much time to follow the forum but I shall go now and have a look at what I've missed.

Cheers Debs - try 'A Question of Coffee' in the General Art section - http://www.painters-online.co.uk/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=3154&posts=22#M32609

I have tried hard to see Michael's 'witch' but for the life of me can't work that one out. Perhaps it is just how individuals see things - must be, as all I see is an angel in all her serene glory. Perhaps I have a pure mind lol!!

Yes Thea I think you do have a pure mind - either that or Michael has been drinking too much Coffee ! lol

I saw the same as Michael in the thumbnail - it wasn't until I enlarged it that I realized I wasn't looking at a picture of a rather cheerful but ugly old witch but at a young woman .... Does it matter, I wonder - well: perhaps it does if you want your picture to be unequivocal ... but then, I like equivocal paintings, so I would be inclined to leave it alone. But yes, probably taking the "teeth" out under the left arm would help. Otherwise, I'm entirely with Thea - I wouldn't touch the face, if the choice were mine - but of course, it isn't; take a look at some of Aubrey Beardsley's drawings, and see what you think. I'm not fond of the phrase "less is more" (because it's such a thundering cliché) but on this occasion there's something to be said for it - AB's drawings generally just place the features and leave them.

I think it must be the photo! I'm confused because I see an Edwardian lady with wings. I like the ethereal look. I note from Robert's comment that the website can't cope with much punctuation!

Thanks Robert,I have decided to leave this one well alone! The face could all to easily be lost and I was after a watery, misty atmosphere anyway. I love the work of Aubrey Beardsley but if I hadn't seen his work I'd be very grateful for the 'heads up'!

Thanks for such a nice comment Gudrun, it's interesting that the two men have seen the old witch, the women on the other hand have seen the angel!!

Since I haven't been viewing paintings for months, perhaps I can start exercising my artistic eye again, lol! I like it Debs, I think the only minor comment I would make is to add a dash of a darker tone on the next to separate it from the face. Other than that, I'm not seeing the witch!

Thanks so much Seok I really appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment as you must have loads of paintings to catch up with!!

This one looks lovely to me Debs, I have absolutely no idea what other people were talking about with teeth and things, I can't for the life of me see any teeth anywhere !