Workbook

[Myku]

So I played around with it a little more, touching it up in places and generally just feeling my way through. Still not even sure if there should be more to the composition or not. It will be a lot darker eventually, I think.

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/2108/chineseacrobatwithtravellingcircuswip2smalllg2.jpg

[MattVogt]

Hi,

This is coming along, making some solid progress. I have a tendency to start dark and work my way up to the lighter colors, finishing off with thos eye catching highlights. Your approach appears to be exact opposite, nonetheless each to his own right? You say it will get darker, as in you think it will.... Try to determine the lighting conditions very, very early on, some even know when they thumbnail compositional sketches. Ask youself where the light(s) are coming from and what kind of lights, a cigorino amber could be a light source. Overall composition could use some work, great start btw, I'd add some scale reference to the miss in the background, rright now the depth isn't there, she seems like a litte person. Adding some converging lines towards her (stage gear, or scaffolding?) or at least place something by her that people relate to... on second though, I think she's in the dressing room isn't she? That would be awesome if she was, altthough curtains are noramlly in the stage area. One focus of composition is contrast. Contrasting shapes, contrasting values etc.. consider these. For contrasting value, squint your eyes to break the levels of shading down to see if it's broken up enough. This could uncover the fact that his knee isn't popping out it seems to blend right into his torso as it is the same value. The perspective on his left arm seems off, it's porportionally correct, but it's going straight down, las if he's forcing it, like a flex. Yeah lloking good, but focus on as many forms of contrast (could look at little parts and push "mini compositions") as possible as well as determine a lightsource. Play with a light casting harsh shadows and some sheets, move it around see how it works etc.

Keep at it, and good community to start out! Enjoy the trip
Matt

[MattVogt]

Went back to painting and I remembered some techniques that could help with your work. Make a shortcut for flipping the canvas horizontalyl, it's found under image > transform I think. This gives youreslf a new set of eyes, like when you first look at someones work, that fresh feeling you get, I think when you stare at seomthing for a long time it gets engrained into the subconcious or something which makes it hard to find things out. Another thing you could do is zoom out really far to look at it. This helps for identifying contrasting shapes (or lack of) for starters.

Also, you could merge all visible layers (ctrl + shift, e) then select it and hit ctrl + shift, u to change it to black and white. Squint your eyes with that layer at the top, this is a sure fire way of checking contrasting values.

cheers! also, I hope my above post hasn't offended you, I could give an asspat, but my hand's been getting sore

Matt

[Myku]

Matt,

I don't know why I'm replying to this now, as it's nearly 3am here and I'm so starved for sleep.

But, anyway, thanks a lot for your comments and suggestions! I'm not offended at all. Of course, I like to hear compliments if they are warranted, but I'm not really interested in having people blow sunshine up my ass. So, I appreciate your honsesty and your insights. You're right about this being a great community; I have learned a big part of what I've put into this picture so far just by lurking around and observing everyone else. I don't know my way around Photoshop very well, and in fact, I've only ever attempted maybe 1 propper "traditional" painting in my life, so I don't really know what I'm doing and can really use all the help that anyone decides to throw my way.

Thanks for checking in- I'll jump back on this tomorrow and see if I can't incorporate your sound advice.

Peace!

[Myku]

K. So, I haven't gotten back to the Acrobat picture because I got sidetracked with the DSG. (excuses, excuses). I started working on a topic that was supposed to take 35min, and I ended up starting 2 new paintings from it and have spent the better part of two days playing around with them- I'm easily distracted.

[Myku]

Ok, this is not much, but slow is better than not at all.

I played around with the composition a little by just doodling some over the picture. I attempted to clutter the scene a bit and add some repetitive lines and shapes while working in some objects that can be used to establish scale and perspective. I think that I can greatly improve the mood/atmosphere of this pic by using the open stage door and the two hanging chinese lanterns as light sources. I think that I will place another light source in front of the young lady, and consider that she is looking into one of those vanity mirrors with the mini light bulbs running all along the frame. I don't think I will make the mirror or the bulbs visible in the picture, though.

This is just a quick sketch, but C&C are always welcome:

http://alien-yakuza.com/files/image%20hosting/Chinese%20Acrobat%20with%20Travelling%20Circus%20%28WIP3_Small%29.jpg

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