Pick this apart for me?

[Karen Barton]

I am not sure if this is done or not. Do you think I need to do any more work on it? Have I overworked it? I don't really care if she looks like my model. I just like the concept. I had to make it kind of small since it is so wide. Hope you can see it ok. Karen

[Matthew Severson]

That's so beautiful! The only possible thing I can think of is that the line where the rock meets the water seems slightly too dark. It sort of stuck me in the eye. You have beautiful coloring!!

[Karen Barton]

Thanks! The original isn't quite as contrasty so I wonder if that dark line would still be too dark if you saw it. Wouldn't hurt to tone it down some though. Thanks again... I seldom do water scenes, or any landscapes for that matter. It was a challenge!

Karen

[Karen Barton]

I lightened up that line and it really helped! Take a look!

[Karen Barton]

The colors in this one are more like the original I think.

[Sharon Knettell]

Personally, I do not care to do landscapes and only do them if there it surrounds a figure!

The problem, as I see it, is not the degree of finish but the competition between the landscape and the figure. Both are equally important in your picture and I think that the baby should dominate.

If you were to greatly soften, cool and lighten up the background it would still set the scene but would not overpower the baby. The baby and the distant background have both the same degree of finish. If you were to look at that figure from life in that situation and looking directly at the baby, you would note that the background would be out of focus. Try softening it up a bit.

I think you would be happier with the result. Nice clean job with the pastels! I know how messy they can be!

[Matthew Severson]

Wow, Ive tried pastels, but all I get is a mess when I try to work with them. I guess it takes practice.

I love your work!