Saturday, March 28, 2009

Trapeze Artists Completed!



Well, here's the finished piece. It's acrylic on watercolor paper.

This painting too me a very long time to complete...an area where I feel I have a need to improve.

There are parts I like and part's that I don't, so I'm eager to hear the group thoughts! :) Lighting continues to be a weak area for me...but I'll keep pluggin' away at it.

5 comments:

Christy/Tiddly Inks Digitals said...

Very nice. I like the spotlight and the shadows. I think it lines up well. I like their costumes and the belts around their middles are perfect. I do agree with Steve's suggestion about giving movement to the trapeze behind her, but I think it is fine as is....especially as it took so long. I really like the details on the turtle's shell and how it reflects the light.
I think overall it is a strong piece.
Christy

Christy/Tiddly Inks Digitals said...

Very nice. I like the spotlight and the shadows. I think it lines up well. I like their costumes and the belts around their middles are perfect. I do agree with Steve's suggestion about giving movement to the trapeze behind her, but I think it is fine as is....especially as it took so long. I really like the details on the turtle's shell and how it reflects the light.
I think overall it is a strong piece.
Christy

Unknown said...

Nice work! I think the in depth post really hits all the major points.

I guess the only thing I could think to add is to make sure you know your story - and when that's figured out, it should help with the execution of the piece. What really made me think this is the looks on the faces of the characters - the emotion could be pushed a little more. I have this same tendency to hint towards the emotion, but it could really be pushed...the angst or fear in the turtle as he steels himself to catch the bigger animal...

Anyhow - that's all I got. I'd like to see where this story goes...like - what does the next picture look like?

pete said...

Thanks for the feedback! Getting fresh perspective is very helpful to me.

After looking with a fresh pair of eyes, I particularly agree that the postures and movement could be exaggerated. I also agree about the expressions and trapeze-release movement.

Giving animals human action isn't an easy task, is it?! I wanted to keep the anatomy as close to "real" as I could and avoided giving the creatures thumbs and human-type joints...that made it tricky and challenging. I was attempting to hint at the probable failure of my trapeze artists, which probably is still too vague...I was going for a flailing hippo.

Steve, thanks for the response and tips. I'll keep them in mind on future work.

sara.b said...

I'm so late and behind. :( But I agree with what has been said and really can't wait to see what else you create Pete based on this experience! You do such beautiful work! :)