xkcd

I'm a huge nerd, so I've got a whole list of webcomics that I follow. This xkcd comic just made my day:


(Click on image for larger view)

Koi Pond WIP 2

Here's an updated photo of the Koi painting. I'd really like some critique on it, especially regarding the composition. Although at this stage, I'm open to just about any feedback.


There are a few things I see that need to be changed, but I'm really interested in what other people have to say. I'll probably add my thoughts in later, but I don't want to influence other opinions yet.

In case anyone is interested, here's the photo I'm using as my main reference right now. I shot it at the gristmill when there was still ice on the ground. It was not taken specifically for this project, but it's working pretty well as a rough reference.

Koi Pond WIP 1

I recently started this painting, so it's a very early work in progress (WIP). It supposed to be an overhead view of a koi pond. The canvas is 44" x 18".

I'm still trying to work out the composition. The right side especially isn't working for me. Looking at the spacing now, the yellow area is the same width as the light blue below it, and also the same width as the two green lilly pads below that. That whole area is going to get reworked next time I work on it.

I really want to give this painting a more complex (sophisticated?) composition than the last couple things I've done. No subject in the center of the canvas this time. I'm hoping to get the general composition tacked down later this week. We'll see. The dogess has class for the next couple of nights, so I won't get a chance to work on it until later this week.

Tiger Portrait Finished

I finished this guy a few weeks ago but never got around to posting a photo of him. Here's the in-progress shot for comparison.


I'm not completely happy with his nose/muzzle but it was time to call him done and move on.

Crop or Not?

Here's the original shot without any cropping. It's not my favorite shot. I was playing around with the depth of field and didn't quite get what I was going for.


But, here's my late night solution:



Yup, it's the same photo, just cropped into a vertical. I think I like it better. At the very least, it definitely fits in better with my recent work. Cropping might be a crutch for not shooting well enough to begin with, but it is a good tool for figuring out exactly what it is I'm going for before I go out to shoot next time. Besides, if I hadn't included the original photo here, who would know?

Tide

More Beach Fun

Still playing the a sort of abstract, flattened space. I'm not really sure if it's something I'll keep working with or not.


There should be a few more beach photos up this week.

Ocean

I took my Aussie dog to the beach last weekend mostly to get some new photos of her but also to get out and play with the camera a little bit. The theme of the day seemed to be flattening space. It seems funny - in painting I feel like I'm always trying to create a 3-dimensional space. For some reason, right now I really want to flatten space in my photographs.


There are a few more photos from the shoot that I'll put up as I get them edited. Also, I plan on putting the whole series of Iris photos on her blog.

Tiger

I said this would be a work-in-progress blog, and then haven't posted anything in ages. So, he's my current project.


He needs more work, especially in the highlights - the top of his muzzle, forehead, and cheek mostly. That dark spot right next to his nose has to go. I was going for sort of a complimentry colors thing with the orange highlights and blue shadows, but I'm note sure if it comes across enough. I might need to push the blue in the shadows a little more. Or maybe bring it up into the orange a bit in the stripes?

Critique is appreciated!