Overacheiver
 

This is 12x36 and an experiment for me. It is my son and an unusual size. I had it in the WIP section for awhile.

Comments & suggestions appreciated.

It seems to have posted harsher in contrast than it really is. It is blended a bit better than it is showing here.

Although I do tend to like strongly vertical or horizontal formats (just as a change from the typical "golden section" ratio) I feel that the figure feels very confined in this space. A smaller figure or larger canvas would have worked better, I think.

Otherwise I like the idea and I'm sure this is a piece he will treasure for a very long time.

I do think you may be right Michelle. Oh well - there are many more canvas' to come. I am not sure about him treasuring it. My daughter loves the ones she is in, but this one is too 'cool' to appreciate anything - so far anyway. Maybe when he is older. For now it is interesting hanging on a wall just as you round the corner - kind of a suprise that seems to jump out at you.

I was going to be in Corpus Christi visiting family a few weeks ago -so I thought I'd enter the competition they were having at the Art Center of Corpus Christi. I usually wouldn't bother because I lived there for years and the winners always lean towards abstract or really grotesque work. (For example, dead babies, women bleeding from breasts, etc.). But, I was there and this one had an unusal size so I entered it anyway. It won an Honorable Mention - which was really funny because the winners were non-realistic figuratives. You just never know about these things.

Congratulations! If you'd given this painting some shocking title it probably would have won first prize.