Help!! koi pond painting

[DansArtClass]

 

Details

I need some help...constructive criticism...I'm not happy with my painting!!!

Frustrated,
Dan

[Fig Artist]

I am sure when you put your leaf shadows in and the water it is going to look just fine.  I do like how you have done the bottom if your pond, looks very authentic!

[MaryAnne Long]

Dan,

I suspect your photo is not as sharp as it could be.  I tilted my laptop and the photo looked a lot better. 

The fish could use more contrast.  The water could use a sense of movement.  Fiona has already addressed the leaf shadows.

What you have done is good - some tweaking will make it very good.  Stay with it.

aloha

mea

[Bellarina]

Getting there.  Keep working it.

[DansArtClass]

Thanks Fiona, where, on the inside of my lilly pad or around it in the water?  What colors do I use for my leaf shadow? ...I thought I did the leaf shadows!!  ...those little white highlights on the leaves???  Thanks, Dan

I am sure when you put your leaf shadows in and the water it is going to look just fine.  I do like how you have done the bottom if your pond, looks very authentic!

[DansArtClass]

Hello Mea, The photo isn't as sharp as can be...I took it at night with the flash on my cell phone.   

I totally agree with the fish could use more contrast...how do I start?  Where do I start?  I've been so frustrated I let this painting sit for 6 months just looking at it. 

The darker fish has the most contrast but his fins look strange. 
The white-ish fish got so washed out from me playing with contrast it now looks grey!!! 
The third fish is just flat. 

How do I address the sense of movement?  I thought that came with adding reflections in the water at the end of the painting process???

And thank you for your help...I want to move from "good" to very good, to amazing!! 

Dan

Dan,

I suspect your photo is not as sharp as it could be.  I tilted my laptop and the photo looked a lot better. 

The fish could use more contrast.  The water could use a sense of movement.  Fiona has already addressed the leaf shadows.

What you have done is good - some tweaking will make it very good.  Stay with it.

aloha

mea

[MaryAnne Long]

Dan,

I am assuming that this is from Nolan's oil lesson.  If so, go back and rewatch it step-by-step.

If not, take out your reference photo.  Then make two small frames.  Isolate one section at a time, on the reference photo and the painting.  Study them, then paint what is on the reference photo onto the painting.

Same thing for water movement.

Hope that helps.

aloha

mea

[DansArtClass]

Thanks mea, I've gone back and re watched the koi pond video and also re watched the beginning two videos on color mixing, etc.  My painting is from the koi painting class.  My tulip painting was my first painting.  I may have jumped too far ahead too fast.  I'm thinking I need to paint the sunset painting as my second painting, then follow the Nolan's lesson plan more closely, to build on what I'm trying before going back to my koi painting.  I see where I'm off with contrast, lights, and shadows.  Maybe I should just leave it alone for now.

On a side note, I think my koi pond painting is salvageable with re painting the fish, adding more contrast and making the white fish white again.  After I improve the colors and contrast, I'll paint the reflections on the water surface...but first, I may start the sunset painting after watching the video.  I'm looking at it as a step back to step forward and complete something I'm proud of. 

Thanks again and your additional thoughts are welcome too,

Dan

Dan,

I am assuming that this is from Nolan's oil lesson.  If so, go back and rewatch it step-by-step.

If not, take out your reference photo.  Then make two small frames.  Isolate one section at a time, on the reference photo and the painting.  Study them, then paint what is on the reference photo onto the painting.

Same thing for water movement.

Hope that helps.

aloha

mea

[MaryAnne Long]

Yes, Dan.  I agree.  You have a good plan. 

The koi painting will be excellent when you finally get to apply your new skills to it.

It's amazing how fast your skills will improve.

Good for you for sticking with it!

aloha

mea

[Danielle123]

[nolan]

I think you have done a great job so far Dan
Just the lower fish bothers me - there is a change in colour between it's head and body which doesn't seem natural. Just even out the colours before adding the reflections

[DansArtClass]

Mea, I deviated from the plan.
Danielle, thank you
Nolan, I tried.

Details

[nolan]

great job Dan, lots of movement in the water
the lily pads really stand out nicely

[DansArtClass]

Thanks Nolan...as I'm sitting here watching the sunset painting class.  I might have jumped too far ahead so I'm going back to the lesson plan and doing painting #2. 

This is the finished product, with more lily pad highlights:

Details

great job Dan, lots of movement in the water
the lily pads really stand out nicely

[Happychappy]

  Wow, Dan, I don't know much about oil paints for I am into watercolour but your Koi pond is FANTASTIC. Your lily pads look 3-D. Amazing!!  How did you achieve that???  Absolutely great work.


Patricia