Peer Critiques

Over the years, I have come to treasure opportunities to participate in group critiques, either after a plein air outing or, as in this case, just a group of artists getting together for an informal critique of each others' work, as a help to solve problems with a painting or just to get feedback from other artists whose opinions you respect.  I brought several paintings to this gathering, but one in particular stands out, because I was so impressed with the sharp eyes and great suggestions of the other artists - all members of the In Town Gallery co-op in Chattanooga, TN.  Here is the painting, Cape St. George Light, as presented to the group.

Critiques:
1 - the white trim on the shaded end of the house is too bright - it needs to be darkened
2 - the blue sky should be lighter at the horizon than at the top of the painting
3 - considering this is a bright, sunny day, there should be more sunlight on the grass lawn
4 - would like to see more obvious sunlight on the right side of the black top of the lighthouse, the palm fronds, and the palm tree trunks

I agreed with all of these suggestions and fixed them.  Here is the "after" photo.

The two photos were taken under very different light conditions, but even allowing for that, the revised version is so much better.

The moral of this story?  Seek out opportunities for getting input from others, particularly from other artists whose opinion you respect and value.  Thank you, Marie Miller and company!

Thompson Island Plein Air Revisited (See earlier post)

Sometimes, after you have finished and signed a painting, another pair of eyes might see something you missed.  Like clouds that look like Mickey Mouse, or in this case, a straight line of purple beach flowers that look like rocks.  My wife looked at this painting and commented:  "That straight line of purple-grey rocks looks weird".  Well, when my wife speaks, I listen.  Looking at it I had to agree.  So, yesterday I followed her advice and made the straight line of flowers a little more uneven, added a few flowers to the left of the big rock, and put some brighter spots of purple and fuchsia on the flowers.  Voila, the offensive line of rocks is no more!  The lesson here?  Another pair of eyes can be an important tool in inproving a painting, and even after a painting is "finished" it's not to late to make corrections.

Thompson Island Plein Air - August 3, 2013

Three of the Plein Air Connection members painted (in the rain) at Thompson Island on Saturday August 3rd - Kay Carter, Becky White, and me.  When the drizzle turned to light rain, we retreated to Sylvia's in Ellsworth for lunch.  I finished my painting in the studio today, three weeks later! 

This is an 11x14 oil painting on canvasboard and will be priced at $500 once it is framed.