You ever paint something that, after finished, you're not happy with? The work is perhaps good, but still ...? Still, you're not happy?
What if you don't like the final results but don't want to paint over it?
This painting worked on many levels. I wanted to convey a certain
turbulence, a certain emotional ebb and flow. I got this through the liquidified effects of the sky, the wall and the grass. The stone doorway came out right. The problem is the expression on her face. The problem is she looks too smug, too arrogant, too cold perhaps? I was thinking frail when I started this and ended up with just the opposite. Which is why I've never showed it to anyone before.
http://pics.livejournal.com/unmired/pic/00040r60/g11
What do you guys think? You think she's cold or perhaps indifferent?
2007-02-17 13:36:15 · 8 answers · asked by Doc Watson 7 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Painting
She looks independent, strong, not cold, but not frail...
To make her look frail, you would want to change her eyebrows (eyebrowns really change facial expressions!). You might want to widen her eyes, to maybe emphasize fear. You will also want to change the direction where she looks. When someone looks directly at someone/something, it shows they are strong and have pride. You will want to make her look at the floor or shy away from looking directly ot of the picture. I personally think it is a fantastic picture, but if you don't like how she looks, that is what you should do.
-STW
2007-02-17 13:44:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I guess I would ask you why you don't want to paint over it. You have already said it's not working. After all, it's only paint. You'll learn more by trying to work through this problem than you will by giving up and starting over. In all probability, It will turn out the same way on the second attempt. If you didn't know what to do on the first attempt, how will you change it on the second attempt? I suggest you not worry about the time you already have in it and continue till you are happy with it. I have been working on a painting since august and just now finished it. I started and stopped many times-painted over areas-made changes, etc, but I kept at it till finally, it's right.
2007-02-18 02:46:10 · answer #2 · answered by softtailmdb 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have achieved the "turbulence, a certain emotional ebb and flow" you desire by placing yourself as the viewer in the position of the woman's stare. You have subconsciously produced an undecided expression. She really could be thinking a number of things...her posture causes me to feel a turbulence a challenge from her. there is "conversation" potential to be had...but what is it.
Defiance is in my experience a great symbol of turbulence! well done........but maybe you knew this already??
2007-02-17 23:17:59 · answer #3 · answered by someone 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you like everything about it except the feeling she is portraying, I would say change the eyes to look down and sorrowful. That could be done without a complete overall change. If you have alive model try her in the same poise with different expressions. Frankly I would just leave this one as it is, and the next time try some different poses with the head and eyes. This one just turned out to be a proud look. Just another happy accident.
2007-02-18 14:15:36 · answer #4 · answered by jackie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like it. To me her eyes look a bit sad, but her posture & expression looks as though she as 'had enough' & has a strong will. The crossed arms makes me think that she protecting herself. I can see the frailty in her, the hurt & the strength.
Ebb & flow is a good description.
I do understand what you mean about a piece that just doesn't 'feel right'. What I do is put it away for a week or so & go back to it. Gives me fresh perspective.
2007-02-18 01:22:17 · answer #5 · answered by vanne676 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Painting is like that- stuff comes out of your unconscious you didn't intend! It's almost like the painting decides for itself what it wants to be! Yes, she does look a bit cold, but that's what makes it such an mesmerizing image.
2007-02-17 21:53:33 · answer #6 · answered by mj_indigo 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm no expert but maybe it's the tilt of her head. Arrogant type of posture to me. If her head would be in the neurtral plane or maybe slightly lowered it would make a difference. Otherwise I really like it.
2007-02-17 21:48:27 · answer #7 · answered by Donna C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, she doesn't look smug or indifferent to me. It looks like she is looking at the viewer in a "what are you looking at" kind of way, but not an in-your-face kind of way...like the viewer stumbled upon her and she is equally curious.
2007-02-17 22:28:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋