Should I ditch it or try to save it? ;)

[aska]

Hi guys,

I got an idea to paint mountains with human faces. I got stuck at this point. I am not sure whether to ditch it or try to save it. What do you think?

[amlilui]

I really like the idea, I don't think you should ditch it by any means. This one you've got going is a little hard to read the face, but I think if you explore the topic with a number of iterations you'll absolutely find one that resonates and then can build off of that.

Final Answer: Keep going!

[KevinTreaccar]

@aska Prefacing this with the fact that I only see one face. On the left. If I’m missing others, then it’s more an issue of clarity.

That said, I like the idea and I like the face I see on the left. It just took me a little while to find it, so it might simply be a focal point issue. The light had me looking at the cabin and then the mountains behind them.

[Michael Angelo Go]

Hi @aska I think this is an easy fix. You need to fix the composition first.

When I looked at your piece, I immediately thought of the golden ratio. Your piece is slightly offset and doesn't help guide our eyes towards the piece. What you can do is orient the piece by having the mountain with the face align with the curve of the ratio and move the house and shed a little to the right and down.

Also use the rule of thirds. Think of your canvas as a series of thumbnails. In this case a set of 9. In each thumbnail you want the photo shown in each tile to be something interesting, something that can stand on it's own. Right now the house is getting cut off in the thumbnails because of it's placement. When you think like this, you can start creating more interesting pieces that really draws your audiences eyes.

Now expand those thumbnails from 9 to 36.

When you bring everything together you will end up with a stronger composition

[tylergibson]

@amlilui I don't know if i necessarily agree with being DIRECTLY on the grid here. It's close enough. i think it just needs to be rendered out a bit more and it will be a decent piece.

[Tom Burchell]

I love it!! maybe the face moutian on the left should curve over a bit (like the grinche's mountian) so as to guide the eye to the cabin a bit? a little like the grinch's mountian haha. and maybe a warm light comin from the cabin so as to add a bit of contrast/ draw eye? so nothing to major

[aska]

@Michael-Angelo-Go Wow, thanks for taking your time and showing me this! I know the golden rule, but I never approached it in a scientific way I tried to apply it ...

@amlilui @Kevin-Treaccar @Tom-Burchell @tylergibson thank you so much for your input! I appreciate it

I changed my draft a bit...I felt it was boring so I added another big face. What do you think guys? still, very much WIP missing details and rendering

[Melissa_Bailey]

@aska it's a much stronger composition. You may also consider adding a face to the background mountains -- 3 would be much more interesting than two.

One other thing: because the cabin is so small now and because it's a very similar color, it's blending into its surroundings. Is it meant to draw focus or blend? If the mountain-faces are looking at it, giving it more color or value might help it stand out a little more.

Really intriguing concept! Looking forward to seeing the finished piece!

[KevinTreaccar]

@aska I definitely think you’re working in the right direction. The faces create a very interesting frame for what’s happening between them now.

I agree with Melissa that the cabins are disappearing a little bit now. I know what the cabins are looking for and I had to search for it. I like the idea of a third face to help fill the white space to help focus the white space more on the cabin. Or maybe it’s some medium value surrounding the cabin so the cabin can really pop (Tone composition is where I’m trying to learn the most right now, so sorry if I just gave a bad thought).

The story here is real interesting. Love what you’re doing. Maybe there’s even something going on at or with the cabin that the faces are watching/protecting?

[aska]

@Melissa-Bailey-0 @Kevin-Treaccar
thank you both for your comments.
I feel more motivated to continue!

good point about too small cabin and one more face!
I have added a few more details and very slight new mountain faces for now...what do you think?

I will be pointing it on a big piece of wooden canvas (120/80cm), so really need to get a good draft before i start...

Therefore I am hoping for more support

[Melissa_Bailey]

@aska it's coming together!

Sorry, I might be totally blind, but where are the 'very slight new mountain faces'?

The goat is a detail you might not need -- I find that it draws my eye away from the faces and cabin.

Really cool that this will be painted on wood! Please show us how it turns out!

[aska]

@Melissa-Bailey-0 thank you! I am still not sure about other faces. I started painting today. I will figure it out on the way... I am so inpatient that I decided to start painting before completing the draft in 100%...;-)

[aska]

Hi guys, I just wanted to share my progress with you. Critiques are welcome. Its still not too late to improve:-)

[Melissa_Bailey]

@aska Looking beautiful! Love seeing your traditional work!

Question for you: where is the intended focal point in this piece?

[Asyas_illos]

Looks beautiful traditional! My eyes go to the mountain man on the left

[aska]

@Melissa-Bailey-0 Thank u! it will be the house once I finish it. I will draw a delicate light in the windows. DO you think it will be a good focal point?

[aska]

@Asyas_illos thank you! It's only this year that I started painting traditionally on canvas. Apart from smelly paints, I find it more relaxing than digital art. I gues its good to switch between the two forms. I live variety

[Asyas_illos]

@aska variety is good

[Melissa_Bailey]

@aska absolutely! The way that the painting is composed, it makes sense that the house would be the focal point.

[aska]

Finished! I am very happy with it However I didn't varnish it and if you smth that I should change, please tell me!