E'TAC Color Systems

Started a new serial of dancing egrets - grace to Mr. Graham Owen, photographer, which permitted a graphical interpretation of his photos. Artworks not for commercial use, just as an airbrush exercise.
I'll put some better pictures soon

Great subject and a great start. I can already tell by the detail added so far that this is going to rock.

I'm not sure I'm on the right track with this. Somewhere I lost the focus. It's not finished yet but I think my effort was a bit out of controll. I'm not happy at all with the background. Will be darken and when the mask will come out, I'll put some white on certain feathers... but...I believe pure black/white approach is a better idea for the next piece. I will re-do it soon.
Any suggestions? I think the whole valuable area of gradients on feathers is lost because of the "color" and "background" idea... if I'm clear enough...

This is almost finished - I decided: it's definitely NOT on my taste. Looks like a poor illustration. Anyway, was another experience.
I will "loose" a bit the wings on background, they look now cut out from background.

Hi Moogoo, I see what you mean..looked at it for a while trying to figure out what it was that makes it look like this.

The birds came out great, but the background somehow doesn't fit in the overall look of it..it seems to distract the attention?? cant put my finger on it but I think you went to dark with the water.

Hey Moogoo,

You have several problems here if you don't mind me saying so. The first is your basic composition. There is no area where the eye is drawn to. You also divided your painting into more or less equal parts horizontally and vertically. 99% of the time that is a very bad idea.

Also (and related to), the background is to overpowering with regards to shape and contrast. It's not in sync with the foreground.

I could show you what I mean if I go into Photoshop but I think you see it when I point it out like this. If not, let me know and I will visualize it for you. Would I be correct in assuming that you improvised the background as an afterthought? The reason why I ask is because they don't seem to fit together with regards to contrast. I think that is why the birds look stickered as well.

I think this kind of mood that you are trying to create invites to experiment with DOF (depth of field) to give it that dreamlike look but that's just a personal observation and not a remark. But in my humble opinion, you first have a look at your overall composition (shape - light and dark).

Take care,

Eddy

Thanks Eddy! You pointed out right! I completely agree with the "focus point" that's missing here and all you said about the background and foreground. Theoretically I know some of those rules, but some time is hard to achieve all - and then is the bad moment when the artwork starts going in the wrong direction. It was build step by step, but without an overall thinking. Eh! Lots and lots to be learned in this life! Anyway, I want to re-do it in another manner.

i think the birds look great....whish i knew a small sampling of Eddie's knowledge...it's always great to read a critique from somone that knows and explains well....I too have learned from your pic and his critique.....i guess thats why were here...
thanks for sharing.

Moogoo,

I look forward to your next painting.

syklystt,

You give me too much credit, but I appreciate it.

Eddy

Although I liked this very much, I to found that when I did a blue heron, it was very hard to paint. (for me anyway. I really struggled on it, and it did not have it's wings out.)

Just a bit of fine tuning on wings - still don't like what I did, but... this is is... finished!

Thanks for showing us the picture Moogoo. We always look forward to seeing your work and hearing from you.

very good job on the birds.
i would take the horizon line up or down a bit.

yaniv