Environment: Weird Castle

[Speaky]

Hi Garma,

I like it so far, it has a serene and alien quality to it. It kind of has the feel of a book cover for an Ian M. Banks novel, which is a good thing!

Now for some crits ;)

You've placed your main subject right in the centre. This often has the effect of dulling the composition because it equalises it. As in all aspects of painting, equality isn't really desirable (values, contrast, colour, texture, detail, edge sharpness). If it's evenly spread across the pic, nothing will stand out. I find my eye keeps getting drawn to the left of the pic where you've got something unequal - the edge of the building. So, I'd advise you to build some tension into the pic by having inequality in your composition. Work out your centre(s) of interest, and make sure that the highest contrast, colour saturation, greatest texture and detail are focused there, and achieve balance by making the rest of the pic less contrasty, less saturated, flatter and less detailed. Tricky but worth aiming for!

One example of this is that the building has a very strong silhouette. This can be desirable but I feel the contrast between the dark building and the light sky puts the dominant focus on the edges of the castle rather than anything 'within' the shape.

Right, I'll stop there. I commented because I like it and think it's got promise.

[Garma]

well thanks speaky that was quite helpful! Unfortunately I don't really know how to fix it: I think I'm too late for that. I think I'm going to lay out the composition on forehand next time.

thanks for your effort! I'm gonna leave it here this time.

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