Tom and Jerry

Michele Rushworth · 12-12-2005, 10:23 AM

I wanted to compliment you on my favorite part of this painting and that is the very colorful whites you have painted in the shadows of his shirt.

If you haven't delivered this painting yet, I would suggest one more area that, to me, needs a bit more attention, though. I think there needs to be more naturalism in the trees. They seem rather quickly drawn and more like "symbols of trees" rather than keenly observed shapes. I am glad you lightened them so they are less distracting, but the rest of the painting is so well put together that the trees take away from it, at leas to me.

Simon Bland · 12-12-2005, 07:49 PM

Thank you to everyone.

Chris - I've read your book.

Michelle, I've seen your portfolio before while browsing this site and I really admire your work.

I painted the trees with just a few brushstrokes as I wanted to keep that area full of light and use it as a way to start a flow of light down through the rest of the picture. The setting was also carpeted with leaves and I wanted to find a balance between detail in the foreground subjects and background.

Simon

Michele Rushworth · 12-12-2005, 08:13 PM

Keeping the trees light and without detail is a good choice, but in order to look right each tree should be specifically "that tree, that shadow, that curve of branch", etc. The key is in making specific forms, rather than general ones. Not just "some general tree-like forms", but the particular ones from your reference that you want to depict. That will bring more reality to the scene, even if they are painted lightly and without detail. Just my two cents....

Simon Bland · 12-12-2005, 08:21 PM

Michelle,

Thanks, that makes a lot of sense to me.

Simon