Monday, July 18, 2011

Hit or Miss? - Reworked


Ok, this is a rework. Additional shadows put in to enhance the planes of the buildings. The top (which was the roof believe or not) has been removed and an off-white inserted. The center bar was taken out and the flooring was lightened with more shadows on the flower pots & flowers. It definitely changes the mood - no doubt about it! What do you think?




I have found that I am the worse judge on the quality of my paintings. Things that I think are awful get the most feedback & comments, while things I think I did great on get almost nothing. It makes it tough to critique my own work - and quite frankly, can we really critique our own work? I mean, as artists we do tend to be either very hard on ourselves - or we tell ourselves that everything is rosy, don't we?

So I ask, is this painting a Hit or a Miss? I honestly can't tell. My gut is telling me it's a miss, it just looks too simplistic or something. Sort of too juvenile. But given my track record for critiquing, I'm wondering what reaction others would have to it.

This is a scene I found on the Jersey Island, which is this months Virtual Paintout location. Here is the link to this -- click here. And yes, these two buildings are "sisters" next to each other and painted up differently. I was struck by that oddity and wanted to try & paint it. And I realize that this was a very ambitious painting for me to do/try. I do not want to submit it as it is - so am hoping for some feedback. I may post this to the DPW critique as well since I've gotten pretty good feedback there on a previous painting.

Please, any feedback would be much appreciated - both good & bad. If you can see a way to make it better, I am all ears. I think it could use some shadows - more darks/lights - but I'm not sure where.

Thanks in advance!

14 comments:

jill polsby said...

Hi, it's Jill. I think you put more ornate trim on the yellow building thinking that it needed it. The yellow building was pretty bland. Maybe the flowers could make the buildings pop instead of the white/rust windows? Just an initial thought here at 10 p.m.

jill polsby said...

2nd comment: I cruised that whole darn island and look at you! You found the shopping street with the cute buildings that we all would love to go into and out of. Congratulations on a great search!

Autumn Leaves said...

Nancie, I hate critiquing! But since you asked, I will tell you that I really like this one. You did a beautiful job on the homes themselves and oh to have so many beautiful flowers in my yard!

The things that I find slightly off the mark? Just a couple. Two different color skies on one painting. Secondly? The white line dividing the two yards. Are the houses connected? If so, then why that white line? If not, then why no space between the two homes?

There is nothing juvenile about this piece and oh to live in either of these homes! I love green so am instantly drawn to that side...But then the cream home is also beautiful with its contrast of flowers against the creamy color!

Virginia Floyd said...

Very ambitious, Nan. Great job on the perspective. To me, the house on the left looks more realistic than the one on the right. The tan house seems all one color. I think it could use some darker shadows where the house turns a corner. (I can't paint it, but I can see it.) LOL.

padmaja said...

I know what kind of effort has gone in to this one, it is a lot, for me it looks really pretty neat work.
When i finish any work and look at it after a few days, I find a lot of things that can be added.. so as it is it is looking very beautiful, there is always a choice to work more on it.

yasha said...

Hi Nancy.I agree with what others had to say about the sky above the building but I checked out the map link and found it was the roof.:)I think you did a clever job in getting rid of the roof and creating an open space up there giving it a better perspective.Adding the shadows too did the trick.With some changes you definitely came up with a lovely piece.Congrats!

jill polsby said...

Love the second version. Makes much more sense than the first one. Great painting job!!

Autumn Leaves said...

Well, this is just awesome, Nan! I must confess that I am embarrassed about not realizing that those were roofs and not sky. Doh! Still, I like it better without the roofs any way. And that center line being gone looks ever so much better! Now. I'm ready to move right in! Green one, please!

Angela Sullivan said...

You added such a feeling of depth.

Debbie said...

I have to say that the second version of these Roseville Street houses is a much improved painting! Your original version looked to me like two separate, fairly simplistic paintings stuck side by side merely for the sake of it. However, the second improved painting with the added shadows and sharpened edges shows more depth and one gets the impression that these are actually two houses that really do stand side by side. It makes more sense now that you've removed the roof too.

I live on the island of Jersey and am very impressed that you have recreated these houses so beautifully from afar using nothing more than Google Street View as a reference. Excellent work!

Paula said...

OOh, much better reworked! You captured the depth much better and the details are just enough to be entertaining but not too busy. Is it the photo or are the buildings kind of leaning in toward the door? Either way, I want to go there and see for myself. Nice work!

Nan Johnson said...

Thank you everyone for your feedback, help & comments. It is always so great to have more artists eyes to see things. I did finally submit the reworked version to the Virtual Paintout.

@ Debbie - you live there!!! I am so envious! The island of Jersey is so beautiful, I found more & more as I roamed around. I think it's my favorite VP locaton! And thank you for the compliment, coming from someone who knows the scene in reality, it means a great deal!

@Paula - you're right about the lean. It's more noticeable on the green half, and much more noticeable after I enhanced with shadows. Guess I have more work to do on this one still! I was going to post it for sale, but I think I'll hold off on that for now.

Virginia Floyd said...

I like this re-work! I think it really has great depth now. You alway do such lovely detail work. Beautiful painting!

Nelvia said...

Hey Nan, I also like the second picture better. Only thing I see is that the corners of the first floor of both buildings tend to slant as they get closer to the ground putting your perspective off a bit. Overall though to do the details and draw the buildings as well as you have, quite an undertaking. I agree with the others, fun place to live.

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...