Acrylic painting of washed up fishing boat

[bergina]

"Still Standing"

This painting depicts a long ago abandoned fishing boat resting on the shores of Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia. This boat may be well beyond its time but still has so much character.

[johnwalkeasy]

I like the colors. They work very well. The green weeds growing up around the side of the boat. And the blue top. The green sides of the boat. The green agaist green works very well. The night sky. Very good.

[bergina]

Thanks John for the positive comments.
Al

[xxbreezy]

Fantastic job as usual!! Love that you've captured the paint peeling...looks so real!! Another beautiful piece!!! Have you seen my "Secluded Beach" sketch yet? Was hoping for your input....I respect it so much!!! Again......nicely done!!!

[bergina]

X
eeze, Thanks for the nice comment on my painting titled " Still Standing". I did not see your new sketch as I rarely visit the other venues but I just had a look. Very nice. Your back lit sky and warmth in the water works so well. I also like the color on the top of the waves as that is probably what one would see considering the strength of the light source and direction. I will assume that you are creating this from your head? Tough to do and make it look real especially with reference to the lighting but overall you did a great job. The water is totally believable. If I was to suggest anything, and I believe I previously mentioned this and I’ll say it again, only my prospective and from someone who is committed to creating real believable paintings. I’ll try to keep this short. The palm trees and other vegetation in the foreground appear still weak in relation to color pigment strength and detail. However, I am not suggesting that you start throwing in a lot of strong
ight colors. These objects in the foreground are so close that the viewer will expect to see some stronger contrasting colors in the trunk and leaves. If there happens to be a dark shadow over this foreground, then, make the darks darker ( warm dark, not cool) so they stand out a bit more. This will go back to your initial layout or lack of. If you paint and create as you go, you may end up painting yourself in a corner and taking away from the overall beauty of what you have already so successfully accomplished in the mid and background. Because you have positioned these dominant features in the foreground, up front and personal, you are forced to address them properly ( more color strength and finer detail) or they will just not look right which will pretty well effect the entire painting. Find a decent picture of a palm tree and use that as a reference. I personally think they will work very well if painted properly and be a definite asset to this work but you have to do your homework. I would never dare include anything in the mid or foreground of a painting unless I was crystal clear as to how it looks in real time and light and of course detail. With the proper resource material I have a good chance of completeinmg the initial plan or layout. If I am working on say some foreground rocks for a ocean painting, I will take them home and set them up in my studio ( as long as there not to big ).
Again, I hope this was of some help. It is so important to understand the relationship between the primary colors and how to create the illusion of depth. I am still and will always be working to improve my color skill and knowledge. Someone can tell me how to fix a particular color problem in a specific painting and it will probably look good to me and that’s what counts. However, I will probably run into a similar problem the next time.
It reminds me of the biblical parable, Give a hungry person a fish and he’s good for a day, teach him how to fish and he’s good for a life time.
Pretty short eh?
Al

[xxbreezy]

Wow to get a compliment like this from you Bergina....I feel truly honored and excited!!! I totally respect your opinion and talent as someone who would make a great teacher of art. Your tips gave me what I needed to make the ocean area of this sketch to look the way I wanted it too. I start a sketch only after researching it first. I do take different ideas from different photos and have a mind-set on what I want to put into my sketch. As you said, creating as I go can and has been disasterous...lol!! That is one thing I've learned and only did once. I did intend on adding some lighter colors into the foliage and palms so....saying this sketch was complete was a little premature. You
ought up some very good points but I guess I'm not sure what you mean by "still being to weak." I was trying to keep the darker tones in this sketch... close in color. I think you are telling me that "dark shades" should be used basically if something is shadowed...referring to this sketch as a reference. So, if I add more detail and some lighter color to the palms and their trunks as well as the foliage, I am assuming this will correct the problem. Please correct me if I'm wrong. As always, I respect your opinion and appreciate the time you take with me. I will work on correcting this sketch and will re-post. Thanks again!!!!

[Ted]

I like the size of this piece very close, nice detail work.

[bergina]

Thanks Ted, for the nice comment.
Xx
eeze, As far as painting a foreground, I believe generally in most realistic paintings, it's not really a mater of light or dark but more to do with the strength of the color whatever it is. Here is an analogy. We both purchase nice dark blue t-shirts. You like yours so much you put it away and never wear it. I on the other hand, wear mine for a year and wash it ever day. We then both put them on for an up close photo. How will the color of mine look compared to yours? Well. Yours will be very strong in color (dark blue), mine would look washed out much lighter probably grayer blue because I’ve washed most of the color out of it. This is what I am referring to in relation to strength. This is one of the important factors to be aware of when attempting to create depth in your paintings. The way you paint is also important. Keep your lines in the background softer meaning where you have a darker meeting a lighter or contrasting colors, blend the colors where they meet. Take the t-shirt analysis again; Instead of an up close shot, we are photographed 200 meters further back. Even with a great camera, our two t -shirts shades at the meeting edges will almost blend together.
Hope this helps,
Al

[DrSirDrawsALot]

This is bloody amazing! Dang! How do you get the patience to do this? Ha, ha! This is wonderful!

[BAReam]

Al.... went back and looked at this piece... very nice!! Color contrast and harmonies are right on. Your description of color fading or greying is exactly what I describe as color "dilution and diffusion" ... basically the same thing. I tend to use varying degrees of (Paynes Gray) mixed with subject color for the middle ground back. Your theory is right on...... all the best... BAReam

[bergina]

Thanks BAREam and Sirdrawsalot
Al

[gmoulton]

WOW!!!!!!!!
I love this!

[bergina]

Thanks gmoulton,
Al

[Michael Ortega]

Excellent!

[bergina]

Thanks Michael,
Al