I am going to show you the evolution, the different stages in a little painting I did from an original photo. What I want to know is where and when it goes wrong. Start out with composition.
So far, so good.
Oh! I like it! Maybe the essence is here, in the contrast between the yellow foreground and the blue distant mountains.
Still LOVING it.
Still ok. Although the white or very light in center foreground is not necessary; takes away a bit from the bull on the right. Let’s continue.
Oh, dear. I don’t like it as much!!! Well, I hope this blog post is interesting to you and that you will share your comments. For me, I have learned a lot, just looking carefully at the progression of this painting and thinking and looking carefully. Here’s what I think. While I love stage two and three, something of that is lost in the finished painting. I think the problem is the big square brushstrokes in the foreground, especially to the left. They are too large, to uniform and just plain distracting from the cattle. The whole foreground has become too light. It was better a darker ochre and needs more subtle brushstrokes. Yes, details are visible in a foreground, but this reads as brushwork, not as detailed plants. I think maybe I can fix this!
What do You think? Is this what is wrong?
Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. I think you may be right about the warm/cool shift. That’s not something I often think of, tending to concentrate on lights and darks only. Thanks for your kind words, I really appreciate the opinion.
Here’s what I see, and it has nothing to do with the brushstrokes which I love! The transition between number 3 (where you love it, and I agree) and 4 and 5 is the “coolness” and the value. It was a very warm inviting picture before, and went to sharp and cold…..that’s just my initial impression, but I agree with your step by step assessment where it started to go “wrong”….but I still think that it’s a gorgeous painting and had you just shared the final painting, no one would be the wiser………..