Comments on: Some you win… some you lose…

By: Swings and Roundabouts

Swings and Roundabouts — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 18:06:53 +0000

[…] After last week’s slightly underwhelming effort of this scene of the old Bathhouse (and now a café) on Barmouth Beach, I was keen to put all that I’d learned from the experience, and from your feedback, into a new painting. As a refresher, here’s my painting from last week: […]

By: alanphotographysite

alanphotographysite — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 04:11:12 +0000

In reply to John. You have helped me remember the importance of cropping.

By: John

John — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 13:13:38 +0000

In reply to davidrpharmer.

Hi David and thanks for this. I’m already re-drawing this one out – trying to strip away more detail and can already see quite distinctly that all the areas of interest (building, boat, reflections etc) fall in quite a narrow band through the middle of the painting! I suppose I don’t mind cropping it down again if needs be but in my head I was thinking that the expanses of sky and foreground sands provided some restful space for the eye. I’ve put this effort away for now but look forward to comparing it with my next effort.

By: davidrpharmer

davidrpharmer — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 12:49:44 +0000

Reflections are good, and composition is strong. I agree about the last image, perhaps it’s something to do with less being more. the focus is on the boat and the buildings which are the key elements. I often crop a painting that i am not happy with, and make a smaller painting. That often works. Definitely worth keeping. Come back to it later, and you will see things more objectively

By: John

John — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 10:02:22 +0000

In reply to Artful Aspirations. So pleased that you like that one! It's the one I want to like most, but think I'm now so fixated on all the things I don't like about it that I can't see it objectively!

By: John

John — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 05:40:24 +0000

In reply to Art-Chap-Enjoin.

Thanks so much for this and I haven’t thrown it away – not just yet at least! I keen to see how the next one of this scene that I’ve already started compares with it. I’m changing the composition slightly and leaving out more of the background and left hand side details. Feeling good about it so far but am still only sketching it out – so plenty of time for things to go wrong yet!

By: John

John — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 05:35:57 +0000

In reply to Antje. Thanks so much - fingers crossed I can learn my lessons! Thanks so much for following and commenting.

By: Artful Aspirations

Artful Aspirations — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 04:39:56 +0000

I love it without the crops. :)

By: Antje

Antje — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 04:38:44 +0000

In reply to John. Oh how exciting! I bet it will go very well. I like the reduced pallets you use. I look forward to seeing the new version and other new paintings!

By: Art-Chap-Enjoin

Art-Chap-Enjoin — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 04:27:34 +0000

Don’t throw it away! The third crop is the one I like the best too. I see what you mean about the left hand side part though. Unlike one commenter, I like the building – that big bold shape looks good, so bright – and you’ve got the reflections in the water just right