I can go more in depth about the comments about the background and why it's important. Think about drawing a figure on white paper with charcoal. The marks you make are black and the rest is white. Now imagine doing that drawing on a grey piece of paper. The marks you make are black and the rest is ...

Since the piece is so busy (which I like) the only relief your eyes get is around the child's face, which is the focal point. That said, since my eyes immediately go there I think the drawn eyes looked forced. It's as if everything is realistic except the eyes which feel too large and flat. If this ...

If you could separate the girl from the mandala-energy-portal, I'd slide it to the right a little bit. The implications of the perfection in the sacred geometry becomes less important since the relationship between the figure and the "orb" are a little off. See what I mean? I think the lit...

No question these are spectacular. My only critique would be on the first one because the head looks strangely forced on the body. But I don't know what these creatures look like in real life. Seeing the level of perfection of the others my guess is it's right on and maybe just a funny angle. Tell y...

It looks like these figures could join. Where the twisting legs look like the bottom of light bulbs and the faces look like they could be the sockets. Concerning your first picture - the right figure reminds me of the venus de Wildendorf mixed with Zoidberg. I like the voluptuousness one more strang...

I'd think the "good" side would be brighter. When I squint every thing turns to mush. Although it looks like black and white, what I really see is light grey and dark grey. More value contrast would help bring the idea of opposing sides as well as make the piece easier to see. Then once yo...

See how the background is much brighter than the foreground? My eyes are drawn away from your focal point. Think about how it would be different if you used lighter values in the foreground. Similarly, it's not only the value of the sky, but the chroma. I think if the blue were neutralized a bit it ...

Your understanding of your medium, how to use the full value spectrum, and composition all are developed.
I gave you a comment about dynamic character positions and making it look less like a still life than an action scene @WC.

Although there is a wide variety of values overall there isn't enough contrast between local values. The more I paint the more I realize I don't know. Practice alone will not get you there. By learning the basics of composition, value, color, narration, balance, etc. you'll start to perceive the rea...

Joe- Thanks for your input. Whereas I thought these studies would primarily be about painting, it has become clear to me I need to work on it all. Composition, color relationships, proportion, focal point, etc. Therefor although the orange may not be a perfect match, my idea was to use the complemen...

You've only taken one painting class? Frankly I don't believe you. These are exceptional paintings - especially for the fact that you just started. Did you always draw? Did you first paint with Acrylics? I'm a die hard oil painter. I am lucky enough to do it as my job, but it took me years to do thi...

#22 Dec 28 2:30 - 4:30pm 30.5 X 32.5cm Title: Results of a domestic dispute After finding how much the construction paper added to my last composition including; asymmetry, depth, and color harmony, it was an obvious move to add it this time as well. This also hints at where I'm trying to go by inco...

#21 Dec 23 11:30-1:30pm 32 X 30cm Title: Study for "subliminal association" I need to learn which parts of a painting needs detail (focal point) as opposed to which parts I can get away with not putting as much detail into (peripheral). These studies are showing me how I can achieve the id...

Pretty
Thanks for your input.
I was hoping there would me more people interested but oh well.
I'll keep posting...sporadically

Yes, I've done another 10 or so paintings but because of lack of interest/comments/critiques I haven't found it a valuable use of my time. If any one who has been watching this series unfold want me to continue; please let your voice be heard. I'll check back in a few days to decide whether I should...

#20
Dec 22
2:30-4:30pm
24 X 23cm
Title:
Physicality

I'm just going to curb my tongue for a while...no one is commenting.

#19
Dec 21
2:00-4:00pm
32.5 X 30cm
Title:
Quantity Vs. quality

I just wish I had more time. When I do my next 100, it'll probably be two- 2 hour sittings.

#18 Dec 21 11:00am-1:00pm 35 X 22.5 cm Title: Softy Here's what I learned: 1. See note* from last post. 2. Because I gave myself an hour to setup the composition, let me explain why I think it works well. Starting on the right side; The stuffed animal's tail leads your eye over the edge of the table...

#17 Dec 20 8:00-10:00pm 30 X 25 cm Title: Hawaiian kitchen design I wanted to retry the yellow cloth I used for #16. I got it much closer. Here's what I learned: 1. When I'm done painting put up the "stoppers"(little hooks on easel to prevent painting from falling). Note* I rearaged my who...

#16 Dec. 19 7:30-9:30 24 X 23 cm Title: Bloated sack of protoplasm! 1. I got a file! 2. Figure out when to post on the forum, so that I'm not distracted with non-painting related activities. Yet, everything I do on the forum is painting related? Not sure how that works. 3. Wrong Yellow. Try Azo 4. A...